When installing a smoke detector, how far should it be placed from cooking appliances?

When installing a smoke detector, placing it at least 10 feet from cooking appliances is recommended to minimize false alarms. Cooking appliances can produce smoke and steam that may trigger the smoke detector unnecessarily, leading to nuisance alarms. By maintaining this distance, you ensure that the detector is sensitive to actual smoke or fire events in the home, while reducing the likelihood of it being activated by normal kitchen activities.

This guideline is in line with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations and serves to enhance the reliability of smoke detection systems within residential settings. Other options suggest either a shorter or longer distance, but the 10 feet distance strikes an optimal balance for effective performance and avoiding unnecessary triggers.