Smoke Alarm timed temporary shut off.

Now I know that in the name of safety we all must live with these devices but we can't cook in our home without this annoying smoke detector going off, not even the toaster can be used without waking someone up. Isn't there anything out there that can be used to do one of the following, adjust the sensitivity or mount a temporary on/off or timed switch connected to the smoke alarm to temporarily turn it on/off while cooking without feeling like we are losing our
minds?

Perhaps locating the detector where it won't be affected by smoke / heat from the kitchen?

In a case similar to my own, that's not a option as I live in an apartment and the owner is not cool with such modifications

Fair enough. Still, I don't think modifying it is a smart solution. Or a legal one, for that matter. Not that I've never taken the 9V out of one for this very reason...

It's the smoke detectors that are based on a radioactive source (Americium 241, to be exact). They are extremely sensitive (over-kill, in my opinion). You could try replacing it with a photo-electric smoke detector. They're not as sensitive.

caveat: Check the laws in your state: they might exclude photo-electric smoke detectors. Also, only use an approved smoke detector (in other words, don't sew me if you DO replace your smoke detector and your house burns down!!!)

Yves, either your cooking is like mine, your smoke alarm is too sensitive, or it is in a bad location (right over the stove?).

But I suspect it's not your cooking so perhaps a different smoke alarm or moving the smoke alarm will cure the problem.

Try this site http://www.visacon.com

Most smoke detectors are ionization models (tend to be cheaper) and they go off when when you cook or shower if there is a lot of steam or a little smoke. An electric model won't go off so easily because it detects fire/smoke in a different way. They cost just a bit more but it is SO worth it!

Electrical service

the mains ones can be just as sensitive, a couple of years back (when i was more mobile) i was helping my husband at work (he's a bathroom fitter) and got asked to help him clear up at the end of a job in an old peoples residential home, I started vacuuming and the residual dust in his vacuum expelled a large plume of dust which activated the fire alarms. the whole building went into shut down, 150 residents were electrically locked in their flats, all fire doors were electrically slammed shut and locked. all power in the building was disabled etc....until the fire services arrived to individually release all of the doors and captives. very embarrassing

No need to be embarrassed! That's a ludicrous system that is way too sensitive and way too "overkill"! It's the designer that should be embarrassed!!