It’s happened to most people–you wake up or come home to find that your smoke detector won’t stop chirping. This is extremely distracting and frustrating, especially when you cannot figure out what is causing it to sound. If you are confused and looking for a solution to the incessant chirps from your smoke alarm, we may be able to offer a solution.

Remember, simply disengaging the alarm should never be an option. House fires and electrical issues cause hundreds of fatalities per year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration – don’t put your family in danger!

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What Makes Smoke Alarms Chirp?

Obviously, we want smoke detectors to function when it comes to sounding an alarm; however, they also chirp when there’s no smoke around. If yours is making periodic beeping noises, it is likely for one of these reasons:

  1. Your alarm is new, and the pull tab is still present. Hardwired smoke detectors come with a pull tab that needs to be removed once the alarm is installed to activate it. If the alarm is attached to the AC power but the tab has not been removed yet, the device will chirp periodically to let you know it has not been activated. Once the tab is removed, the smoke alarm will stop chirping.
  2. The battery is not fitted properly. Most, if not all, hardwired smoke detectors come with a battery as a backup power source in case of a power outage. If the battery is not inserted correctly in the drawer or if the lid is not closed properly, your device will chirp to let you know. Note that this is only for those hardwired into your electrical system; alarms that are solely battery-powered simply will not function if the battery is not properly fitted. You can check to make sure these devices have power by looking at the LED light on them. Battery-powered systems will have a red LED that flashes about once each minute to indicate that they are operating. Hardwired units will also have a solid green LED light to show that they are receiving AC power.
  3. The battery is low. If your detectors are a few years old, odds are the batteries are running low. Once they get below a certain strength, the alarm will trigger a chirp every 60 seconds or so. Try changing the battery and see if that solves the chirping issue.
  4. Sudden changes in temperature or humidity. Smoke detectors may begin chirping if they experience a rapid change in temperature, such as if you are cooking at a high heat on the stove. They can also be triggered by sudden humidity–if you have a smoke alarm stationed right outside of a bathroom, you’ll likely hear it chirping for a few minutes after someone opens the door after a hot shower. Low batteries will increase the chances of your detector reacting to temperature and humidity changes.
  5. The detector has died. Smoke alarms are built to last for about 8 – 10 years. If your device is continually chirping, check the manufacturer’s date on the back. If it’s more than eight years old, plan to replace it as soon as you can.
  6. There is an error code. Sometimes, smoke alarms will continue to chirp even with a fresh battery. This is usually because the device has an error code still stored in its memory, even though the problem has been fixed. You will need to disconnect the device, then reset it (usually by holding down the Test/Reset button for 20-30 seconds) before replacing it. This will likely put an end to the chirping.

It’s important to never ignore or simply unhook a smoke alarm if the chirping is bothering you. House and electrical fires are very real dangers and should be taken seriously. If you have any additional questions about house fires or safeguarding your home, call Promise Electric today for a consultation or home inspection.