NSObject category that explodes if an object doesn't get deallocated soon

gistfile1.m

// Use this gist when you need to assert that a particular object is deallocated
// "soon". I use this technique extensively to ensure that I don't introduce retain
// cycles into my code. It really beats not noticing that you regressed and started
// leaking a view controller months ago!

@interface NSObject (ExplodingDealloc)

// Explode if this object isn't deallocated within 3 seconds
- (void)explodeIfNoDealloc;

// Return a signal that will explode if the object isn't deallocated within 
// 3 seconds of subscription.
- (RACSignal *)explodingDeallocSignalWithTimeout:(NSTimeInterval)expiration;

@end

@implementation NSObject (ExplodingDealloc)

- (void)explodeIfNoDealloc {
    [[self explodingDeallocSignalWithTimeout:3] subscribeCompleted:^{}];
}

- (RACSignal *)explodingDeallocSignalWithTimeout:(NSTimeInterval)expiration {
  NSString *description = self.description;
  return [[[self.rac_willDeallocSignal
            timeout:expiration onScheduler:[RACScheduler mainThreadScheduler]]
            doCompleted:^{
              NSLog(@"explodingDeallocSignal - %@ did dealloc", description);
            }]
            doError:^(NSError *error) {
              NSAssert(NO, @"explodingDeallocSignal - %@ not deallocated", description);
            }];
}

// If you're not using ReactiveCocoa, you're living half a life. Nevertheless,
// here's a version for you.
- (void)nonRACVersion {
    NSString *description = self.description;
    __weak NSObject *weakSelf = self;
    dispatch_after(dispatch_time(DISPATCH_TIME_NOW, (int64_t)(3 * NSEC_PER_SEC)), dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^{
        NSObject *strongSelf = weakSelf;
        if (strongSelf) {
            NSAssert(NO, @"explodeIfNoDealloc - %@ not deallocated", description);
        }
        else {
            NSLog(@"explodeIfNoDealloc - %@ did dealloc", description);
        }
    });
}

@end

For example, when dismissing a view controller, I often have code like the following:

[self presentViewController:childController
                   animated:YES
                 completion:nil];
...
[self dismissViewControllerAnimated:YES
                         completion:nil];
[childController explodeIfNoDealloc];
childController = nil;

Also, if a view controller owns the lifetime of its view model, I'll do the following in the view controller's dealloc

- (void)dealloc {
  [self.viewModel explodeIfNoDealloc];
}

Nice idea. However, both versions always explode even on the simplest [[NSObject new] explode] (wrapped in a method call, which means that the new object should be deallocated). In all places I tried it, the use of explode actually prevented deallocation, even on objects which where deallocated without it. However, I don't have an explanation for that yet - unfortunately.

A second remark: I would strongly suggest to wrap the invocation in something like

#ifdef DEBUG
    #define DeallocGuard(obj) ([obj explode])
#else
    #define DeallocGuard(obj)
#endif

- (void) dealloc {
    DeallocGuard(self.viewModel);
}

saves you a lot of boilerplate code you don't really want to have in your archives - or do you ;) ?