Does Arizona heat affect your smoke alarms?
Yes. Arizona's heat is hard on smoke alarms, and it is something most homeowners never think about. Extreme temperatures shorten an alarm's working life and can cause false alarms, and failures, especially in the parts of your home that get the hottest.
What the heat does
Most smoke alarms are rated to operate only up to about 100 to 120 degrees. Beyond that, the electronics and sensor degrade faster, and the alarm can misread the conditions. A Phoenix summer pushes well past those limits in the wrong spots.
Where it bites
Garages and unconditioned attics are the problem areas. A closed garage in July can sit far above an alarm's rated range for hours a day, every day. An alarm living in that environment will not last as long as one in your air-conditioned hallway, and it is more likely to nuisance-trip.
What to do about it
Do not put a standard smoke alarm in a garage or attic. Garages should use a heat alarm, which is designed for that environment and triggers on a rapid temperature rise rather than smoke. And because our climate is tougher on electronics, it is worth checking your alarms' age a little sooner here than the 10-year maximum might suggest. Here is how to check the date.
Want your garage and hot spots done right? We will recommend the correct alarm for each location, with the price in writing first.
