Smoke detector near stove - false alarms

[dh1989]

Last fall I replaced all of my smoke detectors, as they were reaching 10 years old. I have smoke only detectors in the bedrooms, and the hallways have combination smoke and CO detectors, all interconnected. I have one such combination detector located just over 1' away from my double wall stove pipe for the wood stove. That detector has never had any issues with the stove running during the winter over the past 10 years. After replacing all the detectors, I started getting occasional false fire alarms from that specific detector at the wood stove. Nothing was burning at the time of the false alarms. I cleaned it out with compressed air, and then went on a road trip a few weeks later. While away, I got a call from the fire department that they had climbed in through a window and disconnected that detector after it went off all day according to a neighbor. I have an air quality sensor in the house, and there was never any sign of smoke. Upon returning home I threw that detector out, and replaced it with the same model just the other day. At 4am last night all the detectors went off. I ran over to that specific one, pulled it down and disconnected the AC power, and they all immediately stopped sounding. I didn't even have to press the hush button or remove the batteries to stop it, just disconnect the AC on the wood stove detector.

The old detectors were Kidde/Firex KN-COPE-IC, and the replacement one was the Kidde 30CUAR-V. I'm wondering if dust is drafting down from the attic via the stove pipe/ceiling box and setting it off. What is odd to me is that I have the same model on an unfinished ceiling in the basement boiler room, and even with cobwebs around it there has never been a false alarm from that unit. I'm attaching pictures of the wiring and box for the problem unit, and the boiler room unit for comparison. Has anyone else ever dealt with this before?

 

[begreen]

It might be a good idea to leave that one out. I wouldn't have a smoke detector right over the stove. It is too likely to get false alarms when reloading in mild weather and a little smoke spills.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Last fall I replaced all of my smoke detectors, as they were reaching 10 years old. I have smoke only detectors in the bedrooms, and the hallways have combination smoke and CO detectors, all interconnected. I have one such combination detector located just over 1' away from my double wall stove pipe for the wood stove. That detector has never had any issues with the stove running during the winter over the past 10 years. After replacing all the detectors, I started getting occasional false fire alarms from that specific detector at the wood stove. Nothing was burning at the time of the false alarms. I cleaned it out with compressed air, and then went on a road trip a few weeks later. While away, I got a call from the fire department that they had climbed in through a window and disconnected that detector after it went off all day according to a neighbor. I have an air quality sensor in the house, and there was never any sign of smoke. Upon returning home I threw that detector out, and replaced it with the same model just the other day. At 4am last night all the detectors went off. I ran over to that specific one, pulled it down and disconnected the AC power, and they all immediately stopped sounding. I didn't even have to press the hush button or remove the batteries to stop it, just disconnect the AC on the wood stove detector.

The old detectors were Kidde/Firex KN-COPE-IC, and the replacement one was the Kidde 30CUAR-V. I'm wondering if dust is drafting down from the attic via the stove pipe/ceiling box and setting it off. What is odd to me is that I have the same model on an unfinished ceiling in the basement boiler room, and even with cobwebs around it there has never been a false alarm from that unit. I'm attaching pictures of the wiring and box for the problem unit, and the boiler room unit for comparison. Has anyone else ever dealt with this before?

Maybe there is some sort of air circulation in that area like you say. I gather there have been no fires lately, so it must be related to contaminated air. You might try a shield around it as an experiment. Then look at putting a cover on the hole, and maybe buy a 10 y battery one and experiment with that around the area. I'm glad they didn't bust your door frame out.
edit - check your box gaps and holes. Maybe you cam seal up some draft from the attic or joist area above

 

[kborndale]

Why would you put a smoke detector within 1 foot of your stove? I doubt the old one worked if it never went off during reloads.