Cleaning a Kidde Photoelectric Smoke Alarm (The Right Way)

Has your Kidde Photoelectric Smoke Alarm started to trigger randomly? Have you tried to clean it as instructed using a vacuum cleaner or compressed air and STILL the alarm continues to trigger? This guide is for you! Learn how to disassemble a Kidde Photoelectric Smoke Alarm (model P12040) and clean it properly (these instructions may apply to other photoelectric smoke alarms as well). Save your money: no need to replace the unit you already have when you can just spend a few minutes to clean it the right way.

[@procellfoxreal]

BEWARE! This will void your 10 year warranty

[@dankvr4018]

Thanks for this. One of mine randomly went off for a few seconds and stopped. Opened it and found a tiny live bug having a party inside the optical sensor.

[@johammerstein3605]

So, you have to be a mechanic and electronics technician to clean the damn thing

[@timbiglow9363]

Any idea if Kidde is revising their products to prevent false positives ("crying wolf") due to creature infestation?

[@geraldwe]

Excellent video! Especially upon seeing the spider web in the optical chamber! No amount of vacuuming or compressed air blowing will clear out the spider web without taking opening up the unit, as was done in the video.

[@graysongambill7871]

For informative! Thanks for the video!