A hazard detector, comprising: at least one hazard detection sensor that detects a presence of at least one type of hazard; a light sensor that senses a brightness level in an ambient environment of the hazard detector; a light; and a processing system provided in operative communication with the at least one hazard detection sensor, the light sensor, and the light, the processing system configured to: receive an indication of the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the light sensor; determine the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector and when the brightness level drops below a threshold brightness value to: perform a status check of one or more components of the hazard detector, performing the status check comprising at least one of: determining that a battery charge of a battery of the hazard detector is below a threshold charge level; querying the at least one hazard detection sensor to determine if the at least one hazard detection sensor is functioning properly; checking connectivity to a remote server; checking whether any messages are pending for a user; checking whether the effective life of the hazard detector has expired; checking whether a full test of the hazard detector should be performed; checking whether wired power is being received by the hazard detector; checking whether connectivity to a wireless network is present; select an illumination state from a plurality of illumination states based on the status check wherein each illumination state of the plurality of illumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazard detector; and cause the light to illuminate using the selected illumination state of the plurality of illumination states in response to the determining the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has dropped below the threshold brightness value. at least one hazard detection sensor that detects a presence of at least one type of hazard; a light sensor that senses a brightness level in an ambient environment of the hazard detector; a light; and a processing system provided in operative communication with the at least one hazard detection sensor, the light sensor, and the light, the processing system configured to: receive an indication of the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the light sensor; determine the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector and when the brightness level drops below a threshold brightness value to: perform a status check of one or more components of the hazard detector, performing the status check comprising at least one of: receive an indication of the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector from the light sensor; determine the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector and when the brightness level drops below a threshold brightness value to: perform a status check of one or more components of the hazard detector, performing the status check comprising at least one of: determining that a battery charge of a battery of the hazard detector is below a threshold charge level; querying the at least one hazard detection sensor to determine if the at least one hazard detection sensor is functioning properly; checking connectivity to a remote server; checking whether any messages are pending for a user; checking whether the effective life of the hazard detector has expired; checking whether a full test of the hazard detector should be performed; checking whether wired power is being received by the hazard detector; checking whether connectivity to a wireless network is present; select an illumination state from a plurality of illumination states based on the status check wherein each illumination state of the plurality of illumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazard detector; and cause the light to illuminate using the selected illumination state of the plurality of illumination states in response to the determining the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has dropped below the threshold brightness value. select an illumination state from a plurality of illumination states based on the status check wherein each illumination state of the plurality of illumination states is assigned to a status associated with the hazard detector; and cause the light to illuminate using the selected illumination state of the plurality of illumination states in response to the determining the brightness level in the ambient environment of the hazard detector has dropped below the threshold brightness value.