When your smoke alarm has a problem, it will continually make a beep or chirp noise about every 60 seconds that is difficult to ignore. While annoying, this noise is designed to be noticeable – alerting you that a crucial piece of safety equipment may be malfunctioning or need important maintenance.
If you hear this chirping, it’s best to find out why as soon as possible. It might be as simple as a battery needing replacement, but it could also be a sign of something more serious. If you’re unsure, an expert should be able to help.
Why Is Your Smoke Alarm Beeping?
The loud chirping noise your smoke alarm makes is annoying and intrusive by design, so fixing the root issue immediately is the best way to keep your sanity and ensure you and your family are safe in the case of a fire. The reason your smoke alarm is beeping could be due to:
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A Low Battery
When the batteries in a smoke alarm run low, the alarm will begin to emit a single beep intermittently. This is the most common reason for smoke alarms to beep without provocation. Most 9v alkaline batteries should last around 12-18months – but as a part of responsible smoke alarm maintenance, this battery should be replaced every 12 months. This beeping will happen at all hours of the day, even throughout the night. Simply replacing the battery should fix the problem.
If you’ve recently changed your battery and the smoke alarm begins beeping again, it may need to be reset. Check the battery isn’t faulty, ensure it is seated in the smoke alarm correctly and ensure nothing is blocking the battery terminals. If this doesn’t fix the issue, you may have a faulty unit that should be inspected by a qualified smoke alarm electrician.
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A Faulty Unit
If you’ve swapped out your battery and your smoke alarm continues to beep, you should check for battery blockages inside the device such as dirt, insects and dust. Spiders and other insects often make their way inside your alarm and can stop the battery from having a good connection. Make sure the battery compartment is completely closed once you’ve removed any impediments between the battery and the connectors.
If you’ve checked for dirt and insects and your unit continues to beep, you may have a faulty unit which should be replaced as soon as possible..
How To Replace A Smoke Alarm Battery
Changing a battery in a smoke alarm is often quite simple. Different smoke alarms have different methods of accessing the battery compartment – some twist off, some snap down in half and others have a sliding battery cover (that may be held in with a screw). It’s best to check with your manufacturer if you’re unsure how to access your smoke alarms battery compartment or get into contact with an expertto do this for you. Once you’ve accessed the battery compartment, simply remove the old battery and place the new one in. Close it all up and place the alarm back on the roof.
If you’ve recently changed your battery and the smoke alarm begins beeping again, it may need to be reset.
How To Reset A Smoke Alarm
Some smoke alarms retain their error codes (such as a low battery error) until the unit is reset, causing them to continue beeping even though you’ve replaced the battery or fixed the issue. The procedures for resetting a hardwired and battery smoke alarm are slightly different:
Battery Only Smoke Alarm
- Remove the battery from the smoke alarm
- Press the test button and hold it for at least 15 seconds. This may cause the smoke alarm to sound or beep before quickly silencing.
- Once completed, reinstall or replace the battery. The unit may chirp once when the battery is inserted, but unless there are any additional faults with the equipment, this should reset the unit and cease the chirping.
Hardwired Smoke Alarm With Battery Backup
- Turn off power to the smoke alarm at your home’s electrical switchboard.
- Remove the smoke alarm from its bracket and disconnect the power cable
- After the smoke alarm has been disconnected, remove the backup battery.
- Press the test button and hold it for at least 15 seconds. This may cause the smoke alarm to sound or beep before quickly silencing.
- Once completed, reinstall or replace the battery. The unit may chirp once when the battery is inserted, but unless there are any additional faults with the equipment, this should reset the unit and cease the chirping.
- Reconnect the power cable and place the smoke alarm back onto its bracket.
- Finally, reinstall the alarm and turn the power back on at your home’s electrical switchboard.
Is Your Smoke Alarm Still Beeping?
Ensuring your smoke alarm is in working order could be the only thing standing between escaping an unexpected house fire or being trapped. If you’ve done all of your checks, and you’re still not sure why your alarm is chirping at you – it’s time to have an expert come and take a look.
With over 40 years of combined experience, our experts are more than capable of coming out and making sure your home is safe, and that the smoke alarms over your head are working. Give Smoke Alarm Installers a call today on 0477 257 599for a free quote or use our easy online form.