Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - ADT Smoke Alarm Problem

We have an old ADT alarm system (A910 according to the ADT person I just talked to). We've been having false alarms from the fire segment. That zone has three sensors on it - two smoke detectors and one temperature-based sensor. I believe the problem is one of the smoke detectors, because it had a solid red light where you normally see a blinking light. When I got the problem to clear from the panel, the solid red light went back to blinking.

ADT is sending a technician, but not until 1/3. In the meantime, this thing keeps going off. I'd like to disable that sensor, but I haven't figured out how to get the cover off it or whether I can do anything once I do get the cover off.

Alternatively, is there any way to determine where that sensor connects to the system board and disconnect it there? I'm a networking and computer professional and fairly comfortable at working around board-level electronics if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks for your help. The Fire Dept has been nice about the two false alarms in the past month but they're going to start getting unhappy soon!

The smoke detector is probably dirty. A good cleaning with a can of compressed air (like for cleaning computer keypads) will usually make the false alarms stop.

The simple way to disconnect the fire zone is to simply take one of the two wires off of the zone input.

Not knowing what model smoke detector you have, I can't really tell you how to open the housing. With some models, the head simply twists off of the base, with others you have to insert a small flat screwdriver into a slot on the cover to hinge it open.

Clean the smoke detector. Alarm company called me about a non restoring fire trouble at work this morning and I landed up having to remove, clean and reinstall a smoke detector head.

I would also put that zone on test if you haven't already. I third false alarm might come with a fine. Also, servicing the unit could cause an alarm in itself.