I'm not sure if this post is in the right section but I've got a problem with my fire alarm at home. It's wired to the mains and is 18 years old. It's worked perfectly until last month. Situated right outside the bathroom, it sets off every morning after a shower. It is activated for a few seconds then stops for a few seconds before starting again for about 10 mins in total. It's a very irritating way to come fully conscious in the morning and freaking the cats out!!! It's a bit too cold to have the bathroom window open and annoying because it's never done this before. I've tried hoovering the outside but that hasn't worked. Unfortunately I can't open it up to see the make and am afraid that if I bash it's brains out in frustration it will just sound off continuously as it's mains operated!!
Any help would be much appreciated. I'm about to be unemployed soon so need a low cost solution.
Vicky

It needs replacing. Its as simple as that. You are supposed to replace them after 10 years. I have just replaced both of mine this week as one started going on the blink and they where both almost 20 years old. I got them from Screwfix in Birkenhead as they seemed the cheapest and where the only place that stocked mains smoke alarms that was open on Saturday afternoons.

I fitted a pair of these

http://www.screwfix.com/p/dicon-ionisation-mains-alarm/49209

Fire Service (for free smoke alarms etc) 0800 731 5958

If you ring this number I think they will get a member of the fire brigade to come out and fit a new alarm for you. Pretty sure my dad did it cause they just turned up and didn't take any payment.

The fire brigade only stick battery powered alarms to your ceiling.

Pretty sure ours are mains powered but either way. Better a battery fire alarm than a faulty one.

Fire service are free but they are sealed units (so you can't nick the battery's), meant to last about 10 years.

Mains powered ones should be replaced (as above), but make sure you have the service code for your alarm as you'll need to power it down to change them.

Cheapest "give it a try" solution is a can of compressed air (now you've sucked out all the loose stuff", but even if this works it's only a temporary fix and you will need to change it.

The easiest would be to just cut the power to them and fit battery ones.

If its on its own fuse in the circuit box, pull it out. If not find the fuse spur they are connected to and pull that out.

They will probably have battery backup inside for when the power fails, but hopefully after 18 years the batteries wont be holding any charge. If there is any charge left in them just let it run down.

Thanks for all your help guys, I've just rung the Fire Service and they are coming out on Monday to check the alarm out and hopefully fit a new one - don't mind if it's a battery one as long as I don't have it sounding off every morning!!
Vicky

The fire brigade are firemen not Electricians. They can stick a battery powered detector to the ceiling with a sticky pad but they cannot isolate the mains alarm, remove it, make the cables safe and fill the hole in ceiling. See what they say anyway. I recommended the one I did as a like for like swap rather than a very cheap fix that would still leave you with a duff alarm on the ceiling forever.

Gives them something to do anyways