Noticing your smoke detector starting to beep randomly can be frustrating. In most cases, the beeping can start to happen at intervals. Unfortunately, when the beeping happens, most users do not know the root cause of the problem and hence wait for the beeping to stop.
So, how long will a smoke detector beep before it stops? Your smoke detector will continue chirping every 30 seconds for up to 30 days. It is chirping because the power in the battery is too low. Change the battery as soon as the chirping sound begins.
According to a certified electrician, the chirping noise is by design, and it is decided to start when the battery needs changing. However, in cases where the battery is not the trigger, the best solution to the problem is resetting the alarms. I recommend the Kidde Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector that is available on Amazon. Click here to have yours delivered to your front door.
Customer Service Numbers Top Smoke Detectors
| Brand | Telephone Number |
|---|---|
| Kidde | 1-800-880-6788 |
| First Alert | 1-800-323-9005 |
| Siterwell | service@china-siter.com |
| X-Sense | 1 (833) 952-1880 |
| Ecoey | support@shopecoey.com |
How to Stop a Smoke detector from Chirping even after the battery has been changed
There are many reasons why your smoke detector can start to chirp randomly with no particular pattern and without getting triggered by smoke. In this section, we will look at some of the causes for the beeping and how you can stop the chirping.
- Improperly Installed batteries: Your smoke detector uses batteries for daily operations. Unfortunately, there are instances where the battery can be improperly installed, which can result in the beeping sound. To avoid this, you need to make sure that the batteries are of the right type and size. You also need to make sure that the battery is not loosely installed and that the compartment door of the battery is closed.
- Environmental conditions: Weather conditions such as humidity, steam, and condensation can be a cause of the chirping sound. There is also a likelihood of high temperatures causing the chirping sound since most smoke alarms operate at 40 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit,
To address the chirping problem, you will need to reset the smoke detector. This can be done by following the steps below.
- You will need to start by turning off the power that connects your smoke detector.
- Next, remove the smoke alarm from the mounting bracket. This can be done by twisting it anti-clockwise.
- Next, remove the batteries and then press and hold the test button for 15 seconds. This ensures that any stored charge still in the smoke detector is used up. You may notice your smoke detector chip for a few seconds before it goes silent if there are any charges in the smoke detector.
- Next, reconnect the power and reinstall the battery. You may notice your smoke detector chirping once. Thankfully, the chirping will suddenly stop, and there will be no more chirps afterward.
Note, if the chirping continues even after changing the batteries, then there is a high likelihood that the batteries were installed improperly, and therefore, you will need to repeat the resetting process and install another battery.
Battery Brands that Work Well with Smoke Detectors
| Battery that is Great with a Smoke Detector |
|---|
| EN22 Energizer Industrial Alkaline 9 Volt |
| 1222 Eveready Super Heavy Duty 9 Volt |
| LA522 Energizer 9 Volt Lithium Battery |
| MN1604B4 Duracell Coppertop with Long Lasting Power |
| 6F22 PKCell Carbon Zinc Ultra Long Lasting |
Click here to have your 5 pack of Duracell Coppertop batteries delivered to your front door by Amazon.
Is a Smoke Detector that is chirping still Able to Detect Smoke
A smoke detector that is chirping, whether due to a battery alert or signal errors, can still detect smoke and alert users of a possible fire without compromising on performance.
A functioning smoke detector is important and highly recommended by the National Fire Protection Agency, with data from the agency showing that three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes that do not have a smoke detector. In fact, it is recommended that every home should have a smoke detector in every bedroom, on every floor, and even outside every sleeping area to alert people in case of fire. You should be concerned when you hear the chirping noise from your smoke detector.
Therefore, if your smoke detector starts to chirp, beep, or make unexpected noises, you should consider starting to troubleshoot it immediately. You should start by determining whether there is smoke in your home. Sometimes even undetectable smoke particles from, say, overcooked popcorn can result in your smoke detector beeping. There is also a likelihood that the batteries of the smoke detector are out. In such cases, you need to replace the batteries.
One thing to note is that when your smoke detector produces the chirping sound, its functions remain intact, and it can alert you in case of a fire in your house. In the cases where the chirping results from the battery losing power, the chirping sound can continue for 30 days while still being able to keep your smoke detector alive to perform its function.
How to determine if a Chirping Smoke Detector is Defective
To determine whether your smoke detector is defective, you will need to detach it, remove the battery and press the test button for 15 seconds. Replace the batteries and then reattach the smoke detector. If it continues beeping, then it might be defective.
The sound of a chirping smoke detector can be annoying. Luckily, in most cases, when a smoke detector starts to chirp, it is because of the low battery. The chirping can also continue with the smoke detector lasting for 30 days from the start of the chirping sound while still functioning normally. Replacing the battery in such cases solves the problem.
However, there are other cases where you find that, despite replacing the battery, the chirping sound goes on, and in worst-case scenarios, the actual alarm of the smoke detector goes off loudly and for no apparent reason. To determine whether your chirping smoke detector is defective. The first step is to ensure there is no smoke in the home triggering the alarm for some reason. Some smoke detectors are sensitive, and in some cases, they may get triggered by smoke particles that are hard to see or smell.
- If no smoke is causing the chirping noise, then proceed by detecting the smoke detector that is making the noise and then firmly grasping it, turning it counterclockwise until it breaks off from the base.
- Next, you will need to open the battery compartment in the back of the device and remove the battery.
- Next, hold the test button for 15 seconds. In most cases, the bleeping will continue for a few seconds and then stop. After it stops, put a new battery in the smoke detector and reattach it again. Turn on the power.
If the problem of chirping sound continues after following the above steps, then your smoke detector is defective, and you should consider either replacing or repairing it.
How to Stop an Electric Smoke Detector from Chirping Even After a New Battery
The chirping sound of an electric smoke detector can be annoying and frustrating. Luckily, this section will outline a simple trick you can use to stop the chirping from your smoke detector.
- The first step is removing the smoke detector from its base. This is done by turning it counterclockwise.
- After removing the smoke detector, open the battery compartment and remove the batteries.
- The next will require you to press the test button, which will release any energy stored in the smoke detector.
- Finally, return and reassemble the smoke detector, and the problem will likely be over.
However, if the problem is not over, then there is a high chance that your electric smoke detector has one of the following problems:
- Your battery pet or pull tab has a problem: This is true, especially if you have changed the batteries and the problem continues. To address this, you must look for a small security peg and pull it out to open the drawer where you can insert the battery again. When that is done, you should push the peg back and retry again to see if the problem has been solved.
- Your smoke detector’s cover may be open: In some smoke detectors, there is a backup battery in a small drawer. Therefore, when replacing the battery, sometimes the drawer does not close completely, and hence causes the continued chirping of the smoke detector.
- Battery terminals may be obstructed: There is also a high likelihood that, when you were replacing the batteries, the terminals were obstructed, and therefore they are not taking any power. If this is the case, then ensure you repeat the process of changing the battery, and then make sure that the path to the terminals of the batteries is clear and clean.
- Dust and airborne particles: There is also a high likelihood that your smoke detector is being set off by dust blocking the small light sensor that is housed within certain models of detectors. Therefore, if that is the case, you should consider cleaning the smoke detector using a dry microfiber, which will ensure the light is passing through and, hence preventing the chirping.
Why Does My First Alert Smoke Detector Chirp 5 Times Per Minute
Your smoke detector is chirping 5 times per minute because it is alerting you that it is at the end of its life cycle. There is also a likelihood that it has detected carbon monoxide depending on the brand.
Sometimes your smoke detector can start having a regular chirp every minute. In most cases, you may notice a trend where your smoke detector has five alerts per minute. When that happens, it is important to determine the source of the problem. Below are some of the meanings of a smoke detector’s most common beeping sounds.
- Continuous chirping: A continuous chirping coming from your smoke detector, in most cases, signals the detection of smoke. The alert should be taken seriously and addressed as soon as possible.
- Single Chirp: If you start to notice chirping coming once from your smoke detector every 30 seconds to one minute apart, there is a high chance that you are dealing with a low battery alert for your smoke detector. If that is not the case, the single chirp can also be a signal that you are dealing with dust on your sensors. In such cases, you should consider cleaning the sensors using a dry microfiber. However, there are other instances where such a chirp can signal that your smoke detector has reached its end of life and needs to be replaced. In such cases, you can do little to restore the device, and the solution is usually to replace the gadget.
- Multiple beeps per minute: Depending on the model of your smoke detector, multiple beeps per minute can signal specific problems. For instance, modern smoke detectors that come with a carbon monoxide detection system will mostly chirp a number of times to alert the users that their home may have a huge concentration of gas.
- Five times per minute: As pointed out in the third reason above, modern smoke detectors may come equipped with different functionalities that beep a certain number of times to alert the users. Therefore, it is highly likely that if you find that your smoke detector is chirping five times per minute, it is alerting you about something. For instance, some smoke detectors will beep five times to alert their users that they are near their end of life (EOL). Therefore, it is important to check your manual to see what the alert means for your specific smoke detector.
Why Does My Smoke Detector Chirp 3 Times Quickly
Depending on the model of your smoke detector, you may start to notice it chirping three times at a very fast rate. While this can be very frustrating, there is logical reasoning behind it. Depending on your smoke detector’s model, different chirping sounds may represent different alerts. Below are two of the main chirping sounds you need to know about in this section.
- Single Chirp: There is a high likelihood that you may start to notice your smoke detector chirping once every few seconds to a minute. The reason behind this is your smoke detector is alerting you that you need to replace the batteries, which are currently on low voltage. However, in some cases, the chirp may also signal dust on your smoke detector.
- Three successive chirps: A three successive chirp may be a signal of carbon monoxide detection. However, you should confirm with the manual because different smoke detector models alert differently. Therefore, if you notice your smoke detector chirping three times quickly, it may not be an alert to your system failing but a detection in your home.
