Your smoke detector may go off when you're cooking because vapor, smoke, or steam is entering the device. Both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are so sensitive to foreign objects that even a cloud of dust could trigger the alarm.
Most likely it's a heat detector rather than a smoke detector (or both). It goes off when it detects a rapid change in temp. So when you open the oven door, it releases a ton of heat up to the ceiling and sets off the alarm.
That's right, put a regular shower cap over the smoke detector and that pesky flume of smoke from your oven will float right past without triggering the alarm. You can put it on before even turning on the oven or searing steak on the stovetop.
If you feel comfortable adjusting your sensor on your own, you will need to remove the data card from your smoke detector. Once you have the data card out of the device, you can use a screwdriver to adjust the card. The necessary adjustments depend on what your specific smoke detector's manual suggests.
The longer the oil is in contact with the pan, the more likely it will burn and smoke, triggering your smoke alarm. Preheating your pans reduces the time the oil spends in contact with the pan. Preheating them in the oven allows you to control the heating process and evenly distribute heat throughout your pan.
Your oven is dirty: If baking sets off your alarm, it could be because you need to clean your oven. Your smoke alarm is too sensitive: Alarms sometimes detect steam or even heat. Not optimal for the kitchen. Your alarm is placed wrong: If your alarm is too close to the stove or oven, it's more likely to go off.
Basic Steps to Set Sensitivity
Turn on your detector in a clean area free of metal objects. Slowly increase the sensitivity until you start hearing false signals or erratic behavior. Reduce the sensitivity slightly from this point. This is often the optimal setting for your current conditions.
A fan really is your best bet, there's a super sensitive sensor right outside my kitchen. Even searing steaks will set it off. I have a little ~3 foot tall fan I position to help blow any smoke back into the kitchen towards my open windows and haven't had a problem using that method.
Grease buildup on stovetops, ovens or range hoods can ignite or produce excess smoke, so regular cleaning is essential. Make it a habit to clean as you cook, especially when preparing large meals for the holidays. This way, you'll keep surfaces grease-free and avoid oven smoking.
Sometimes your cooking may produce smoke, which activates the smoke alarm. In some cases, smoke isn't even necessary — a hint of burnt food can be enough to set off the detector.
During the summer, when the heat is not used, dust builds on the heating elements. When the heat is turned on for the first time of the season, the dust on the heating elements will be burned off, creating a smoke or fire smell. Sometimes, the smoke smell is strong enough to activate the smoke detectors.
They're triggered by foreign objects interacting with parts inside the detectors. This means that anything that can float into your smoke detector, like vapor, steam, smoke and large puffs of dust, can trigger your smoke detector. This is why it may go off when you're cooking, even if you're not burning anything.
Smoke alarms should be installed at least 10 feet (3 meters) from a cooking appliance to minimize false alarms when cooking. Mount smoke alarms high on walls or ceilings (remember, smoke rises). Wall-mounted alarms should be installed not more than 12 inches away from the ceiling (to the top of the alarm).
Dust can reflect the light particles, similar to smoke, which gives you a false alarm. To clean, simply remove the outer casing. Remove any large pieces of dirt or debris. Use a vacuum attachment or electronic aerosol cleaner to remove smaller particles, paying close attention to the sensors.
Sensor sensitivity is usually determined during calibration, where the sensor is exposed to known pressure levels and the output is measured. The sensitivity is then calculated by dividing the change in output by the change in input pressure.
Metals such as iron, nickel and cobalt are detected by passive and active metal detectors. Other metals, such as copper, brass and aluminum, are detected only by active means. Walk-through metal detectors are categorized as single-zone or multiple-zone.
Certain fire alarms are sensitive to heat and will go off if they sense a change in temperature (in fact, most fire alarms are a combination of heat- and smoke-activated). The issue comes when the wrong types of fire alarms are located in the wrong places.
Wave a towel at the alarm to clear the air. Move the entire alarm several feet away from the kitchen or bathroom. After the smoke clears, you should place your alarm back on the ceiling or wall. To reduce nuisance alarms from cooking, keep it at least 10 feet away from cooking appliances.
One common cause of a smoke detector randomly going off could be dust accumulation inside the sensor chamber. Even a slight amount of airborne particles can trigger the sensitive electronics. This is one of the many instances where routine maintenance is critical for your smoke detectors.