What effect does high humidity have on the performance of smoke detectors?

High humidity can significantly impact the performance of smoke detectors, making it more challenging for them to function correctly. When the air contains a high level of moisture, it can interfere with the smoke particles that detectors rely on to identify a fire. This interference can lead to false alarms, where the detector incorrectly signals the presence of smoke or fire, or it may impair the detector's ability to sense smoke altogether.

In particular, high humidity can cause condensation within the smoke detector or affect the electrical components, which may lead to erratic behavior. For instance, in some cases, the moisture could mimic the presence of smoke or other particulates, prompting the alarm when there is no actual fire threat.

On the other hand, factors such as enhancements to functionality, no impact on detection, or improvements to sensitivity do not accurately reflect the challenges that high humidity presents to the operation of smoke detectors, thereby highlighting why the correct choice focuses on the negative implications of increased humidity.