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Chirping Smoke Detector System

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Date: 02/28/2007 Topics: Home Improvement > Maintenance and Repair | Readers Request > Home  
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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 detector 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, Texas
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By LisaLG (1) Contact
I had the exact same problem; chirping every 30 seconds in a hard wired smoke alarm despite changing the battery & 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 - VOILA, the chirping stopped and my problem was solved! Hope this helps!

Posted on 10/07/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By liv4shoes (1) Profile Contact
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.

Posted on 09/29/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By linda2844hh (1) Profile Contact
I too have a chirping smoke detector. It's over 15 feet high so I don't even have a ladder to reach. The Fire Dept. kindly came out...tried updating the batteries in ALL detectors, blew them out for dust, and inspected the problem one. No change! It's still chirping. I want to just rip them all out - what the heck?! What is the answer!?

Posted on 06/05/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By lvnlrge13 (1) Contact
I have a HEAT detector in my garage that is hardwired into the house. It will not stop beeping and I cannot remove the cover. I've looked up the model and it's been discontinued. Do you have any ideas on how to get it to stop beeping?

Posted on 01/31/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By cpmr (Guest Post)
My chirping smoke detector chirps about every 15 seconds. I have replaced batteries in both that are wired together. I found the only way to stop it was to disconnect hard wired connectors. Both still have batteries and operate independently but do not trigger the other one. Since both are only about 20 feet apart, it is not a complete disaster but why would it only beep when hooked up to hard wire?

Posted on 01/20/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By cderowski (Guest Post)
Like a person stated upbove, one of your batteries is in backwards. This has happened twice to me and sure enough, one of the batteries was in backwards. It's easy to have happen when you are standing on a tall ladder breaking your neck to look at it upside down and worrying that you will loose your footing. My Husband swore he put it in the right way.......uh huh!

Posted on 01/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Marcelo (Guest Post)
Any suggestion about the speaker?

Posted on 01/17/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By (Guest Post)
"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?

Posted on 01/13/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Paulette (Guest Post)
I have 4 hardwired smoke alarms in my home and repaced all the batteries, upon returning from a lengthy trip recently, as they began to chirp. Within 5 days they started chirping again and the batteries were hot to the touch. What do you think is wrong?

Posted on 11/28/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By fred (Guest Post)
I have a electrical smoke detector thats chirping like you know what. How do you open them to replace the battery or check it out without getting electricuted?

Posted on 07/23/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Mandy (Guest Post)
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,..go around & make sure all of the batteries are in correctly. We had to call the manufacturer of the alarms,...they said they were made like that for "security" purposes. I hope this helps.

Posted on 03/04/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By thriftmeg (413) Profile Contact
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 enquiring at least. A big buggaboo of smoke detectors believe it or not, is dust in the sensors. Remove the top and batteries and vaccuum it out using the brush attachment of your vaccuum. Spiderwebs and housedust can cause the sensors to chirp. This last advice is from my husband who is a firefighter. The vaccuuming 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.

RE: Chirping Smoke Detector System

Posted on 03/02/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By michawnpita (459) Profile Contact
Yep, we had this once, it was a short in the wiring. It had to be fixed by a repair guy.

Posted on 02/28/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

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