What can happen if smoke detectors are not properly maintained?

When smoke detectors are not properly maintained, they can fail to detect smoke effectively. This is critical since the primary purpose of these devices is to identify smoke from a fire and alert occupants to danger, giving them time to evacuate and call for help. Lack of maintenance could lead to issues such as dust accumulation, battery depletion, or mechanical failure, all of which can impair the detector's ability to sense smoke. Proper care and maintenance are essential for ensuring that these life-saving devices operate correctly when needed.

Other options suggest outcomes that are either not directly related to maintenance or are misleading. For example, detectors should not become more sensitive without maintenance. Additionally, while some detectors can provide alerts for carbon monoxide, that is dependent on the type of detector and proper maintenance isn't necessarily related to this function. Lastly, smoke detectors are typically not designed to function optimally in high humidity levels, which can also lead to potential failures.