If your kitchen smoke alarm frequently goes off while you’re cooking, you’re not alone. Kitchens are high-activity areas where heat, smoke, and steam are common—making them one of the worst spots to install a standard smoke alarm. But that doesn’t mean you should go without fire protection in this part of your home.
So, do you need a heat alarm in the kitchen instead of a smoke alarm? In many cases, yes. Let’s look at why kitchens are prone to false smoke alarms, how heat alarms work, and when you should install one.
Why Smoke Alarms Aren’t Ideal in Kitchens
Standard photoelectric smoke alarms are highly sensitive to airborne particles. While that makes them effective at detecting early signs of fire, it also means they can mistake steam, cooking smoke, or burnt toast for danger.
Common causes of false smoke alarms in the kitchen include:
- Steam from boiling water or dishwashers
- Smoke from grilling or frying
- Oil splatter during high-temperature cooking
- Toast or crumbs left in the oven
- Rapid temperature changes
These harmless triggers often set off alarms even when there’s no real fire risk. Frequent false alarms can lead to frustration—and worse, some people may disable the alarm altogether, leaving the home vulnerable.
What’s the Difference Between Smoke and Heat Alarms?
Smoke alarms detect smoke particles in the air using a photoelectric sensor. They’re designed to alert you to slow-smouldering fires, which are common in bedrooms and living areas.
Heat alarms, such as the 10 Year Battery Operated Thermal Heat Alarm and 10 Year Battery Operated Heat Alarm on the other hand, detect a rise in temperature rather than smoke. They are designed to activate when the ambient temperature exceeds a certain threshold, usually around 58°C. This makes them ideal for environments like kitchens, laundries, or garages, where smoke or steam is common but fire risk is still present.
Benefits of Heat Alarms:
- Don’t react to cooking smoke or steam
- Reduce nuisance false alarms
- Provide fire detection in high-risk areas
- Can be wirelessly interconnected with other alarms in the home
Do You Need a Heat Alarm in Your Kitchen?
While heat alarms are not legally required in New Zealand kitchens, they are strongly recommended if you experience:
- Frequent false smoke alarms in the kitchen
- A tendency to cook with high heat or open flames
- Limited ventilation or extractor fans
- A kitchen located close to bedrooms or high-traffic areas
Installing a heat alarm in your kitchen provides fire detection without the false alarms caused by cooking activity. This ensures the area is still monitored while avoiding disruptions.
Best Practice: Combine Heat and Smoke Alarms
The most effective home safety strategy involves a combination of both:
- Smoke alarms in living areas, bedrooms, and hallways
- Heat alarms in kitchens, garages, and laundry rooms
In homes with interconnected alarms—such as those in the Cavius Wireless Family—if one alarm activates, all alarms in the system will sound. This ensures that even a kitchen fire detected by a heat alarm will trigger alerts throughout the home.
Where to Install a Heat Alarm in the Kitchen
Placement is key. To get the most out of your kitchen heat alarm:
- Install it on the ceiling, at least 300mm away from corners or walls
- Avoid placing it directly above stoves, fryers, or ovens
- Ensure it’s located near the centre of the room for even coverage
- Keep it clear of vents, extractor fans, or air conditioning units
Follow the manufacturer’s installation guide for best results, and test the alarm monthly using the built-in test button.
What to Avoid
While it’s tempting to move or disable a smoke alarm that goes off during cooking, this is not a safe solution. Instead:
- Don’t remove the alarm completely
- Don’t cover it with plastic or cloth
- Don’t rely on having no alarm in the kitchen at all
Replacing the smoke alarm with a heat alarm, or relocating the smoke alarm farther from the kitchen zone, is a far better option.
Final Thoughts
So, do you need a heat alarm in your kitchen? If you’re experiencing false alarms or want reliable protection without unnecessary disruptions, the answer is yes. Heat alarms are the safer, smarter choice for kitchens and other high-steam or smoke-prone areas.
Explore our Cavius heat alarm options to find the right model for your home, or speak to your installer about upgrading to a wireless, interconnected system.
