Smoke Detectors And Cigarettes

[Jolon]

Hello, we recently got tenants and we are worried, they are smoking in our apartment. We want to buy an alarm to put on our side of connecting door that can detect cigarette smoke, we are worried about it causing a fire or triggering our asthma. Are there any types of alarms that can do this through a door? I read about Photoelectric Smoke Alarms but am not sure if they would work for this. I saw other alarms on the internet but they were hundreds of dollars. Thank you for your time!

ANSWER: If I understand correctly, you have tenants in an adjacent unit, and you are concerned that they are smoking cigarettes against your wishes.  Is that correct?

In any case, if I understand correctly, your question was inquiring about the possible existence of a smoke detector that works through doors and could detect cigarette smoke.  The short answer is, there is no such device that I am aware of.

There are two primary types of typical residential smoke detectors: Photoelectric and ionization.  Both require products of combustion(smoke) to be literally present at the detector for the unit to activate.  Neither can monitor air behind or through an object.

I wish I could have had more to offer for you.  If there is anything I can clarify or explain further, or anything else I can try to help you with, please let me know.

- Frank

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

Thanks for the fast reply! Yes that is what I was asking, sorry for not wording it well. The reason I thought that the door would be good is because I think the smoke comes through the cracks. If I was to install one in their apartment instead is there one that you would recommend?

Thanks again!

[Delman]

Residual cigarette smoke seeping through cracks around a door is extremely unlikely to activate a smoke detector.  Even when a standard detector is in the same room as a smoker, they rarely activate.  It is my understanding that the particles produced by cigarettes are extremely fine, and also much of the smoke is filtered by the lungs.  In light to moderate amounts, the fine particulates from cigarette smoke are too small for detectors to activate.  Eventually, if enough smoke is produced in an enclosed area, they will eventually go off.

Simply installing a detector on their side is not likely to notify you of when they are smoking, but I have to comment that your question implies that there presently are no smoke detectors over there in the first place.  That is a situation that should be remedied for fire and life safety, independent of the cigarette problem.

I have been a landlord and also dealt with smokers.  It is frustrating, to be sure.  The way we resolved it was through the rental agreement, where there is a provision that permits you access to their apartment with(and usually without) permission or warning.  Trying to hide the habit is problematic, because they can't have ashtrays lying around.  We just popped in unannounced from time to time, easily finding unquestionable evidence such as butts and ash in garbage cans or in and around toilets, and cigarette burns on furniture and windowsills.  And of course the unmistakable odor.  The excruciating eviction process commenced on the fourth violation.

So, the short answer is that a typical commercial/residential smoke detector is effectively not going to warn you of cigarette smoke even when placed in the room with the smokers.  However, there are several manufacturers of systems specifically designed to address this problem, albeit they are expensive.  It sounds like you've already found those, and I am afraid there are no less costly alternatives.

Hope this helped, and feel free to reply if more info is needed.

- Frank