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Electric Smoke Detector Won't Stop Beeping

Electric Smoke DetectorIt can drive you to distraction, the constant unexplainable beeping of an electric smoke detector. This is a guide about troubleshooting ideas when an electric smoke detector won't stop beeping.
     

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Chirping Smoke Detector System

My smoke alarm keeps beeping every 20 seconds. The battery cannot be changed for life of product. I have blown it out, but it still beeps, what more can I do?

By Rick from Wales, UK

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Most Recent Answer

By TXBetty04/29/2011

I've never had any luck with the cheap smoke detectors. First place the battery is nearly impossible to put in. I just bought a new one a few months ago and had to take it down because of the chirping. I finally got a new battery in and it still chirps. Someone at the fire department told me they get dust in them. I blew the darned thing out and it still chirps. I'm going to get one of them that is a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector together that plugs into the electrical outlet.

Electric Smoke Detector Won't Stop Beeping

I have detached the smoke detector from the ceiling electrical contact, but the chirping continues without stopping.

By Andri from San Diego, CA

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Detailed Help for the Mechanically Challenged

By Karen (Guest Post)01/07/2009

Here is some detailed help for those of us who are "mechanically challenged."

First, check your carbon monoxide (CO2) detector, if you have one, to make sure it is not the one beeping. (If it is, open windows to air out the house and get some help to fix the problem.)

Second, make sure the temperature in your home is within the tolerable range for your detector. (Mine has to be above 40 degrees F, and below 100 degrees.)

Third, change the battery. (Some steps below may not apply to your smoke detector, but hopefully this list will help anyway.)

How to change the battery:

Look where the alarm is attached to the wall, and remove the little plastic "stick" that is stopping the alarm from being turned, if present. (Mine had one in a slot on the right side. It just pulled off.)

Turn alarm in the direction of the arrows on the front of smoke detector. (Mine only turned a tiny bit, clockwise, then I had to pull the alarm straight away from the wall.)

It may be connected still by wires to the wall (or to a hole in the wall actually.) Squeeze both sides of the plastic piece where the wires come out of the back of the alarm and pull straight away from the alarm to remove the plastic "plug" holding the wires.

Now, hopefully, you can open the battery door to change the battery. My battery compartment had a piece of plastic (like a stick) on a spring that popped up when battery was removed. I had to push the plastic stick down into the battery compartment, then push the new battery on top of it so the battery door would close.

If it still beeps after you change the battery, try flipping the battery over. If it still beeps, try a different, new battery, and try it flipped over if needed.

If it still beeps then you may have to buy a can of compressed air to blow the dust out, OR buy a new smoke detector, whichever is cheaper/easier.


I hope this helps others to avoid the hassle I had to figure out how to change the stupid battery. Mine is still beeping so I'll try the compressed air or buy a new smoke detector once it is daylight.





Know Your Smoke Detector

By Redbeard12/27/2008

There are two "types" of smoke detectors. One type detects smoke and the other type "sees" fire. Either of these 2 units do not have a long life span only about 5-7 years. Just because the smoke detectors "beeps" does NOT prove the smoke detectors are in functioning order. The only way to test the smoke detectors is going outside and lighting a fire (log, newspaper etc.) away from any buildings and then slowing bring the smoke detector near the smoke and flame to hear if the smoke detector alarms. If no alarm sounds the smoke detector must be thrown away and a new one purchased, usually less than $10.00. More than 5,000 people die each year in house fires, most could be avoided if the smoke detector worked. PLEASE check all of the detectors in our house. Your life is worth more than a few bucks.

P.S. Where is your fire extinguisher? It should be placed near the exit of your house or work. NOT IN THE KITCHEN! If the fire is in the kitchen how would you reach the fire extinguisher? As you are exiting the building and the fire extinguisher is near the exit and you believe you can put the fire out then use the fire extinguisher at hand. Remember this acronym - PPS Pull the pin, Point the nozzle, Pull the handle, Sweep the base of the fire. If the fire is not contained get the heck out of the building, NOTHING in the building is worth your life.

Smoke Detector Beeping Once a Day

I have a hard wired smoke detector with battery backup. It starts beeping (not loud and not the same sound as the fire detector sound) every 24 hours. It goes on for about 30 beeps. Anyone know what's going on with it?

By Dave

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Most Recent Answer

By gardendreamer06/06/2012

Try changing the backup batteries. They are probably nearly dead and the beeping is the warning to change them.

Beeping Electric Fire Alarm

I have an alarm that beeps; are all the alarms on the same system? When one battery is dead does it effect the other alarms? Do you need to change them every year as you do non electric alarms?

By Gerry T.

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Fire Alarm May Need Replacing

By Macie401/11/2012

I had that happen to me and it was driving me crazy. I finally went out and bought all new ones and replaced them. Bingo no more beeping. Good luck

Smoke Alarm Keeps Chirping

I changed the heat detector batteries located in my garage. My smoke alarms in the house have been going off ever since. I now have changed all the batteries in all the smoke alarms and yet, one keeps chirping about every minute and a half.

By Glenn O.

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Most Recent Answer

By rasta11/14/2012

We had the same problem and it was the unit. We just replaced all of them as a precaution. No more chirping.

Hard Wired Smoke Detector Chirping

Do all hard wired smoke detectors have batteries? Mine was chirping on and off and when I went up to open and see there was no battery. Is that normal?

By Elly

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Contact Smoke Detector Manufacturer

By dakota127511/10/2011

If you don't have a user manual, use the manufacturer and model number. Go online and search their web site to see if/where the battery is. Also there may be a help line you can call.

Smoke Detector Won't Stop Beeping

I was getting ready for work this morning when all of the sudden I hear this long continuous beep coming from my smoke alarm. I opened it up, there were no batteries, and it was still making this noise. So I thought that maybe there could be a back up battery or something, so I unhooked it and disconnected it entirely, but it still was making the noise! It seemed to be coming from the ceiling. And it's still doing it as I type! Can some one help me figure out how to stop this before I go absolutely insane?

By LET

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Smoke Detector is Hard Wired

By dph5411/02/2011

The alarm system is probably wired through the house, and your other alarms may be going off.

Chirping Smoke Detector

I have a model 9120B smoke alarm. It chirps about every 1 to 2 hours apart. I have replaced the batteries, checked connections, and even unplugged it from the wall. I took the batteries out and it still chirps. Do you know what's up?

By Anthony from Blairsville, GA

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Most Recent Answer

By muttmom01/12/2012

Our volunteer fire department has suggested in the past that this is of ten because it needs vacuumed throughout the unit. Doesn't even need to look dusty or dirty. I tried it and it worked for mine. Been using the remedy ever since.

Smoke Alarm Beeping

I have a beeping smoke alarm without a battery. I want it to stop beeping, what do I do? I have turned the power off and I have disconnected the plug from the back of the alarm, but it still won't stop beeping. What can I do?

By B C

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Replace Batteries Right Away

By Tooz08/07/2012

Replace that battery and hook the smoke alarm back up! It is so sad to hear of all the folks who die or are seriously hurt in fires where smoke alarms had no batteries!


New Batteries and Clean with Vacuum

By muttmom08/07/2012

Fixed the same problem thanks to my volunteer fireman neighbor. Vacuum the works. It probably does not even look like it needs it. New battery and you should be rid of the problem.

Smoke Detector Keeps Beeping

My combination ionization/photoelectric smoke detector keeps going off, as if we have a fire, but there is no smoke?

By Debra

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Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

When you have put new batteries in your electric smoke alarms and they won't quit beeping who do you call for a problem like this? Or what can you do?

By Lynda from Bloomington, IN

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Most Recent Answer

By meoowmom04/08/2011

My friend had that problem and had to call fire dept hers just went off in middle of the night it turned out it was the wiring, it did take the fireman quite a bit of time to figure that out and they said they learned from coming out to her home.
Good luck to you.

Wired Smoke Detectors Beeping

My smoke detectors are OK on battery back-up, but when I turn the power back on they start beeping non stop. I keep the breaker off but need to fix this soon. Any ideas? Thanks.

By Manuel

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Replace Smoke Detectors

By dreamwvr07/10/2011

You need to replace the smoke detectors. Even though they are hard wired in, they need to be replaced. Keep yourself safe and do this soon.

Beeping Smoke Detector

I know this sounds strange. We have electric smoke detectors. Are there batteries in them also? We have one that has started beeping and we can't stop it. Is there a battery in it or do we simply have to replace it? We have lived here 2 years (new) all the other batteries are OK. Our old house had electric smoke detectors and they never went bad. We lived there 15 years.

By Barb

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Have Electrician Check Smoke Detector

By frugalsunnie09/20/2011

Sounds like there is a short somewhere. You need to contact a licensed electrician-he/she will have the tools and training to track down your problem. Do it as soon as you can because this could be a fire hazard; if you are on a very tight budget you can call the local fire department non-emergency number and ask if they know of any programmes in your area to help you.

Smoke Detectors Beeping

I recently changed the batteries in 3 hard wired smoke detectors. After about 1 day (happened twice) they all go off at the same time. Any advise please? By the way I tried holding the test button down with the batteries out but no luck.

By Chuck

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Check for a Loose Wire

By zoodad07/19/2011

Most hardwired smoke detectors have a signal wire which tells all to sound when one goes off. I would take one out at a time, they usually twist on their base and have a plug in connector. When you find which is causing the problem you will probably need to replace it with the same or a compatible model. The other possibility is that when you changed the battery you dislodged some dirt which worked its way into the sensing chamber and causes the false alarm. Gently vacuuming out the detectors may solve the problem.

Fire Alarm Will Not Stop Beeping

There's about 6 fire alarms in my house. One alarm started going off then, all the other ones went off for about 30min. Finally it all stopped, but then started again. Now that all the beeping stopped, one continues to beep every minute.

Read More...

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Heat Detector Keeps Beeping

I have an Ei154TL heat detector that won't stop beeping. Why is this, when it's powered by the main as well?

By Rachel

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Replace Heat Detector Battery

By Indianone10/27/2011

I would check to see if the heater has a battery or not as that is what is most always the problem with detectors beeping for apparently no reason. Even if it is hooked up to main, it just might have a battery. (?) Or google for "heat detector beeping" & check out those links. Good luck! Definitely not something to ignore, I would think.

Chirping Hard-Wired Smoke Alarm

My smoke alarms started chirping. After trying everything suggested we finally replaced all of them with new units and they are still chirping! The connections are all tight, the batteries and smoke detectors are all new. What else could it be?

By Rick

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Most Recent Answer

By Anonymous08/14/2012

Since they are brand new and if they came with a new backup battery then it's time to call an electrician because your home probably is having an electrical power surge problem.

Carbon Minoxide/Smoke Detector Beeping

What gives with these devices, mine just keeps beeping no matter what I do. I have changed the battery and blown it out. Can someone please assist me? I have gone crazy due to beeping sensations.

By Errol F.

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Most Recent Answer

By LI Roe12/04/2012

It is possible you may need to replace your detectors. If changing batteries doesn't work and they are more than a few years old, they need to be replaced.

Smoke Detector Keeps Beeping

My hardwired smoke detector keeps beeping. I tried turning off all breakers, but it still beeps. I tried vacuuming the unit and wiping, that didn't help. It beeps about every 60 seconds. I disconnected the detector from the wiring, but it still beeps from the hardwired sensor. How can I get it to stop?

By Wayne L

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Replace Hard Wired Smoke Detector Battery

By Lamico05/16/2011

Some hard wired smoke detectors have a battery in them for back up if there is a power failure. If the battery is running low the smoke detector will start making a chirping sound just as you described.

Smoke Detector Keeps Beeping

Our electronic smoke detectors are going off during the night hours. This has happened last night 3 times. It is a warning beep because of a low battery. Does anybody know anything about this?

By Mark from Stafford, VA

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Smoke Detector May Also Be Carbon Monoxide Detector

By swtbaby28906/29/2011

Is your smoke detector also a carbon monoxide detector? I know with our smoke detectors the beep for a low battery is different than a beep for an alarm. My mother-in-law had a man come out for her stove and he said she had a severe gas leak, but nobody could smell it, but him, so it might be that and you just can't smell it.

Archives

Smoke Detectors Won't Turn Off

I recently purchased a home which was built in 2003. When I moved in I was informed by my neighbors that my smoke alarms were going off. They had to contact my realtor to have them removed. Now that I am here, I replaced all the batteries in the smoke detectors and checked them for proper operation. The problem comes when I install them and plug them into the power plug. They begin to alarm and only stop after I remove them from the power plug.

What do you believe the problem is and what do you recommend to correct it?

Thanks,
Jay from Lehigh Acres FL


RE: Smoke Detectors Won't Turn Off

I don't know what the problem is but if I were you I'd contact the local fire department and ask them if they have a program that checks smoke detectors. Many fire departments offer this as a free service and maybe they could either tell you the problem or recommend an electrician to fix this. Good Luck and please don't sleep without the alarms working properly. (01/16/2006)

By Connie A.

RE: Smoke Detectors Won't Turn Off

I also don't know what's wrong with your detectors but we bought a home the same year and have the same problem. We called out the fire dept. to make sure there was no fire since we had lost our previous home the year before to a fire. They told us to call an electrician, expensive for us. I went out and bought some battery operated smoke and fire detectors and put them in the home until we save enough to have an electrician come out. The one who did gave us an estimate of $500 to check and replace what's wrong. Being paranoid about fires, I would buy some to put in the house and would never sleep in a home without one. (01/17/2006)

By Roberta


Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

My smoke alarm won't stop beeping. One alarm started to beep, I replaced the battery, then another started. I have 5, replaced all with new batteries, still beeped (about once every minute). Replaced all the alarms, still beeps, disconnected all alarms, the house still beeps. Would there be a relay, and where can I find it. Help my family is going crazy, it's been 3 days.

Kat from Seattle, WA


RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

Before going through any expense; try cleaning each of them thoroughly; we had a small bug in one of ours that kept setting it off; with 9 smoke detectors in the house it took awhile to figure out which one was the problem; after cleaning each of them and installing new batteries problem was solved. (06/18/2008)

By Deb in AZ

RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

I agree with Connie A. Ask your local fire dept to come and check it out. We also had that happen. My husband changed the battery too, didn't help. He also shut off the breaker that fed power to the smoke alarm. It didn't work either. We just bought a new one - they're fairly cheap now. Good luck. (06/18/2008)

By KJ

RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

Ok, I figured it out! After the 3 worst minutes of my life (it hurt more than labor) & I finally got them to stop insanely screaming at me, and they just beeped, beeped, beeped. By the way, I'll need to train the local fire dept on this, because they couldn't figure it out either. I took all of the batteries out of them, shut the MAIN BREAKER off for about a half hour, of course I opened up all the windows to air the place out. Then I put all the batteries back in & turned the main breaker back on. No beeps for the past 15 minutes, so I think we're good. After I reset all of the clocks in the house, I'm headed to the doctor to get my damaged eardrums repaired. (08/29/2008)

By ~Me*

RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

If your hard wired interconnected smoke alarms are going off, the primary source of the problem should have a blinking red light. Normally all detectors have a solid green or blinking green light. Remove the offending some detector and remove the battery. This should stop the alarm. You then need to assess if the problem is the unit itself, or if it just needs a a new battery. I just had a power failure in my home, and it knocked out one of the units, which set off the whole system. (09/10/2008)

By Alec Karys


Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

About a year ago we had a severe storm that tore a 20 ft hole in our roof. Contractors came out, and repaired the roof, drywall, and paint. Now it's as good as new. Fast forward to yesterday I'm on the computer working and my hard wired smoke detectors all start going off. I quickly ran through the house checking for fire/smoke, thankfully I found nothing. I then contemplated one of the batteries went dead so I pull all the batteries, still no luck.

Next, I went to the circuit breaker box and selected multiple GFI breakers to off position. After waiting a few minutes I switched back on the breakers and they started going off again. Being it was late on Saturday and we were not in danger of a fire I decided I would research further and possible call an electrician for Monday.

After searching the internet on this subject I've come up with the following repair opportunities:

  • replace batteries and check
  • replace detectors and check
  • call electrician and spend min $500

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Oh yes, I'm not sure if the home damage occurring is relative, I personally don't believe so or I would have had an issue before now. Thank you.

Sstchester from Haslet, TX


RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

Try taking a vacuum and blowing them all out. Even a cob web that has gotten in or a speck of dust will set them off. I had this problem and once I did this, but I used a blow dryer problem was solved. Julie (11/19/2008)

By Julie

RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

We had that problem when we first moved into our house 10 years ago. The place had been empty for several years and I had cleaned it thoroughly before we moved in. However, I didn't think to open the smoke alarms and vacuum them. I do now every time we check the batteries. It cured our problem in no time. Good luck. (11/19/2008)

By Shosha

RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

We had a hard wired smoke detector go off after we'd had a new roof put on. I believe that when the old roof was off that moisture got into it from the open roof and that was coming through the attic. When the fire department was out I told them about the new roof and they told me that's what caused it was it malfunctioned due to moisture. (11/19/2008)

By Debbie52

RE: Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

I believe they're supposed to be replaced every 10 years anyway due to malfunctioning, just to be safe. (12/29/2008)

By susanmajp


Chirping Smoke Detector System

I have a hard wired smoke detector system with individual battery backup. My system started single chirps every 30 seconds 3 days ago. I changed all batteries in all smoke detectors in the system, still chirps. I had an electrician come by today and he does not know what the problem is either.

The chirp only comes from the master bedroom and disconnecting the bedroom detector physically and electrically does not stop the chirp. A physical inventory of the attic above the bedroom reveals "no" box, etc. that could cause the chirp. I'm lost, need help.

Mike from Garland, TX


RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

Yep, we had this once, it was a short in the wiring. It had to be fixed by a repair guy. (02/28/2007)

By michawnpita

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

Yes it is true that shorts can develop in the wiring in hardwired smoke detectors. Would your local fire department check it for free for you? It's worth inquiring at least. A big buggaboo of smoke detectors believe it or not, is dust in the sensors. Remove the top and batteries and vacuum it out using the brush attachment of your vacuum. Spiderwebs and house dust can cause the sensors to chirp. This last advice is from my husband who is a firefighter. The vacuuming should be done to all detectors regularly, a good time is the twice yearly time that is recommended to change the batteries and do a manual check. (03/02/2007)

By thriftmeg

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

This has happened to me, it took about a week to figure it out. The electrician actually had one of the batteries in backwards. If I were you, I would go around and make sure all of the batteries are in correctly. We had to call the manufacturer of the alarms and they said they were made like that for "security" purposes. I hope this helps. (03/04/2007)

By Mandy

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

"Disconnecting the detector physically and electrically does not stop the chirp". Seems to disqualify some of the posters' advice above.

Muffle the detector by hand. Does beeping muffle? If so, it is the detector at fault, you must have the battery in place still, follow the advice by other posters. If not, it's not this detector. It's a nearby CO detector or other nearby smoke detector. This sound is hard to localize. Maybe an old detector lying in a drawer, that you have since replaced, but still has a battery in it? (01/13/2009)

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

Make sure your battery has not expired. We just discovered our newly replaced battery expired in 2007 (and wondered why the smoke detector was still chirping). Replaced with a non-expired battery, two final beeps, and blessed silence; all is good. (09/29/2009)

By liv4shoes

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

I had the exact same problem; chirping every 30 seconds in a hard wired smoke alarm despite changing the battery and ensuring the battery was fresh and installed properly. After frustration and considering replacing the whole dang unit, it occurred to me that the battery, although installed properly, was no longer making a good connection with the two connector plates at the end where the +/- leads connect. There was the tiniest hair-breadth play or movement of the battery.

So I simply took a letter opener (or pen, screw driver, whatever), and slightly bent/pulled out each of the two metal connector plates. These had been pressed down flat over time, and the battery leads were barely touching them. As soon as I pulled them out, when I reinstalled the battery it was in really tight and the leads made a solid connection with the connector plates -viola- the chirping stopped and my problem was solved. Hope this helps. (10/07/2009)

By LisaLG


Chirping Smoke Detector System

I have a two story house and my smoke detectors are chirping every 5 seconds. I tried looking for the back up power source and I could not find one. If someone could help that would be perfect.

By wpeakso


RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

That usually means that one of your smoke detectors needs a fresh battery, even if they are hard wired. When one goes off, they all go off. I would replace all of the batteries. Don't forget that you might have one in your basement, too. Do all of them with fresh batteries and that should solve the problem. The batteries are backup power to the hard wiring. You also might have a detector that is hidden somewhere, like in a closet, which can be overlooked. (03/23/2010)

By Ginnywest

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

Just had a similar issue, when the alarm went off, I pushed the "hush" button. It kept chirping, so I kept trying different combinations of the two buttons. Eventually, I read the back of the alarm, which said that it will continue to chirp every 45 seconds for 7 minutes or until you push (and hold) the "test" button.

The moral of the story: if you push the "hush" button, you may have to "test" the smoke alarm before it will stop chirping again. Hope this helps someone. (06/22/2010)

By ahawtho


Chirping Smoke Detector System

We have hard wired smoke detectors. Last night one of them started chirping and today we installed a new one.


Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

I have 5 electric smoke alarms in my house and one will not stop beeping. I can't find a reset button, what do I do?


Chirping Smoke Detector System

My smoke alarm beeps every couple of minutes. I've mentioned to my husband it's the battery, it needs to be switched! He argues with me, and says,"that's not the problem."


Smoke Alarms Won't Shut Off

How about this for a smoke alarm that won't stop beeping. Batteries changed, all four alarms disconnected and placed in the truck outside, and the hard wired alarm still beeped every few minutes. Then I vacuumed out all four alarms....


Chirping Smoke Detector System

My smoke detector keeps going off even after I have turned it off at the main, removed the battery, switched it back on, and pressed the reset button. What can I do now?

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