Is Your Smoke Detector Beeping and Chirping with New Batteries?
A constantly beeping smoke detector outside my bedroom recently taught me a little bit about battery-operated smoke detectors that I didn’t realize: In addition to replacing the smoke detector batteries every six months or so, you should also consider replacing your smoke detector every so often.
This battery powered voice smoke detector is my smoke detector of choice because it detects smoke and carbon monoxide and it is reasonably priced.
As usual, the chirping of my smoke detector started around 3AM on a weeknight so I groggily stumbled out of bed, reached up and pulled the smoke detector down and took out the batteries before it woke my toddler son. I stumbled back to bed to deal with the issue in the morning.
When I woke up the next day I checked the batteries by trying them in a little flashlight and they all appeared to be good. No, this isn’t a scientific test and I wouldn’t rely it. I had just put new batteries into the detector around October of last year, so I figured they would still be okay. I shrugged and grabbed a new set of alkaline batteries and put those into the smoke detector. The smoke detector beeped once (as it always does initially) and that was it. I put it back up on the ceiling and it seemed to be okay. But as I was walking away the smoke detector chirped again.
Again, I took it down, got another pack of batteries, put them in and put the smoke detector back up. Again, the smoke detector beeped as though it was ready to go and then, once again, the smoke detector started chirping every 30 seconds as though the batteries were bad.
As I was taking the smoke detector down a third time I noticed a sticker on the side that said, “Installed February 2002.” I thought that was an odd thing to place on a smoke detector unless, of course, there was a need to know the install date. My smoke detectors came with the house when I bought it, so any manuals for these things were long gone. However, a quick search on the manufacturer’s website revealed that my particular brand of smoke detector was supposed to be replaced every seven years. The manual also warned that the “smoke detector would chirp every 30 seconds” when the time to replace it had arrived.
I checked the smoke detector at my basement stairs and sure enough, it was the same brand of smoke detector and had the same “expiration” date. That day I went out and bought two new smoke detectors, saved the smoke detector manual, and noticed that each of these new smoke detectors would also beep or chirp not just when they needed a new battery but also when the smoke detector needed to be replaced.
My house had Kidde smoke detectors and I stuck with them simply because I could use the same brackets that were already installed on my ceiling and they seemed to work exactly as advertised. I would imagine that it’s probably a good idea to replace any brand of battery-powered smoke detector every five to ten years.
So, let’s go through a quick checklist of things you can do to try to figure out why your smoke detector is chirping regularly:
1. Is there Smoke? If not, good! Go to step 2 ;-)
2. Check the Batteries: Obviously this is the first thing to check and replace. Don’t use rechargeable or “cheapy” batteries here. All the smoke detectors I’ve ever seen want alkaline batteries. I don’t usually splurge for “name brand” batteries, but I do for my smoke detectors. Use a new, fresh pack from the store. Really. It does make a difference.
3. Check the Expiration Date: As you just read, smoke detectors and other devices like them usually have expiration dates. Even if you’re off by a year or so, you’re probably better off replacing the whole unit ahead of schedule.
4. Clean It Out: Yes, smoke detectors usually mount on the ceiling or in high places, but that doesn’t mean they are immune from dust collection, cobwebs or even nesting bugs and spiders. When you have your smoke detector down you can try blowing it out with a can of compressed air.
5. Read the Manual: Don’t still have the manual? You can find most online now if you use Google and search for the brand of the smoke detector as well as the model. Still can’t find it? Go to step 6.
5. Call the Manufacturer: This is sort of a last resort and they will likely tell you to do some of the same things that are listed here. That being said, they might have some other tricks or they might know if a particular batch of smoke detectors had any issues or recalls.
I might try replacing the smoke detectors before they start beeping and chirping next time because you have to figure smoke detector technology probably gets better after five years… and it’s really no fun being startled out of bed by a beeping smoke detector at 3 o’clock in the morning.
Comment by Deb Carlisle
I loved your daylight savings tips for Fall. I am a presenter at a meeting next Tuesday and would love to share your Spring forward tips. Are they out yet. Great article and very helpful. Thank you, Deb Carlisle
Comment by Lance
Great tip and information.. My detectors started this and I did not know they had a life finite life span..
Comment by John
I have the same issue, but I replaced all 7 of my smoke detectors last year. They all worked fine, until I replaced all the batteries. Now that the batteries are all replaced, I have one of the detectors that won’t quit chirping every 30 seconds. Any ideas?
Comment by Tom
John,
Huh… that’s odd. Any chance you just have a bad batch of batteries? Did you swap batteries with another smoke detector of the same type to see if the maybe the chirping stopped or was related to just dud batteries? I suppose there’s a chance that one of your smoke detectors was damaged or defective from the factory (just enough that a small bump like when you chance the batteries would break it)… I’d first try the old swap and move around with other smoke detector and batteries, just to make the problem is really related to the actual unit.
Most smoke detectors have a limited warranty so you might actually be able to get a free replacement out of it if you’re able to contact the manufacturer….
Good luck!
Comment by woken up by a chirping detector
All true in your article. The one main point I would highlight is if the thing starts chirping at 3am like ours did too…if you want to get some sleep and deal with in the morning, TAKE THE BATTERY OUT and that will stop the chirping till you can deal with it after a good nights sleep.
Comment by Matt
Disconnect the battery and re-install. Next, spray the detector inside and out with compressed air. It worked for me. You should be able to find cans of compressed air at any big box retail store.
Comment by Jeramy
I have the same problem as John. Several of my kidde smoke alarms have been chirping. I’ve changed batteries a couple of times. At first I used new Duracells, then tried new Energizers. In both cased chirping continued. I went and bought a new one of the same type and as a sanity check used the same Duracell and Energizer battery. Both batteries worked fine in the new one. The old ones are only 2 years old, so this is a bit confusing.
Comment by Kortney
Here’s one for you – the past three nights, a smoke detector has been going chirping every 30 seconds between the hours of 4:00am – 5:15am…then it stops for the rest of the day. I replaced the “suspected” smoke detectors’ batteries yesterday, and it still happened last night. Any thoughts?
Comment by Tom
Kortney,
That’s easy – you need an exorcist!
Seriously, that’s pretty darn strange. My only guess is that your smoke detector could be picking up some sort of interference from a radio or telephone signal or something used by a neighbor. Either that or you have some strange gas leaks in your house. Without much more info, I’m not sure if I can make any better guesses… Is your smoke detector still beeping during those times now? What brand and model is it?
Comment by mike
My “chirping” is always around 4 AM. First, it was one detector. Played the bettery/reset dance for a few night, then finally changed out the detector. A few months later, the same model in another room did it.
I wonder if the 4 AM time hack has anything to do with switching the power grid? Is there a power surge that fries out the detector? I have two models scattered throughout the house, and only the one model is having the issue…one after another…until I replace it..
Comment by Jean V.
Had a chirping smoke detector too. Replaced battery and still chirped. Drove me crazy. Removed battery and it still chirped every 60 sec, Guess I
need a new smoke detector.
Comment by Bobby B
I purchased 6 new battery operated smoke alarms. Only one keeps chirping. I have tried a new battery with no success. Help!
Comment by John E
Being a firm believer in Murphy’s Law which says – if you ever have a fire it will be the night that you take the batteries out of the unit. I tried a little different solution –
Take the battery out for a minute or two and then put it back. That seems to reset it (at least it did with my Kiddie) and then replace it the next day.
Comment by Ron T
I had a power outage . So My detector ran on battery power till it went dead. I replaced the batteries, replugged the unit. Now all it does it chirp and say low battery.Whats the deal….. I tried 3 new batteries
Comment by Concerned
Have replaced my smoke detectors several times now, only get maybe 2-3 years between replacement. I am getting very upset. It is not the battery, it is not the electrical.
It is a either a bad smoke detector design or poor/cheap part being put into these things. Our house has 8 detectors in it. One in EVERY room, per local electrical code.
I am spending 100′s of dollars replacing these things every few years.
Anyone know of a GOOD QUALITY DETECTOR? You know one that will last?
Had Kidd, Firex so far, those things are flimsy pieces of junk!
Comment by Yona
Thanks for sharing this. Just got the smoke detector replaced yesterday by my apartment manager, and Im suffering this beeping noise every 30 seconds…and it’s a Saturday so my message to the office probably won’t be heard until Monday. I don’t think I can take the battery out either. So frustrating.
Comment by Tom
Yona,
Hmm… It almost sounds like something wasn’t set properly on the smoke detector or the batteries they put in were already low. Again, many smoke detectors actually give off a regular chirp or beep when their batteries are low. It’s MEANT to be annoying so that you’ll change the batteries and not forget about it…
Comment by Marcia
My smoke alarm is chirping, and it is twelve years old. It is also 2 stories up and I can not reach it. I have never replaced the battery in twelve years. The light is still green. Now here is the strange part the smoke alarm in the hallway that I replace the battery regularly since I can reach it is doing the same thing. Are they wired in sequence?
Comment by Tom
Marcia,
Wow, 12 years and you’ve never changed the battery? It’s possible that it has no battery but it’s actually a wired smoke detector. I once lived in a house that had one “wired” smoke detector (it was wired into a circuit in the house but had a backup battery) and another smoke detector that was completely powered by a battery. Battery powered smoke detectors shouldn’t be wired in sequence or wired at all :-) Your 12 year old smoke detector could be beeping because it has reached end of life or because the backup battery is low. Even though it’s a pain to get to, it’s probably a good idea to check it out sooner rather than later. It could be a safety issue.
Comment by Gerri
I have hardwired battery back up smoke detectors. I replaced two with just battery smoke detectors. I replaced all batteries and the main area kept cherping. I moved all smoke detectors from house and cherping is somewhere in attic? They have hardwired a cherper somewhere? It is driving me crazy. I try flipping switches on circuit breaker and it will stop for awhile and them starts again. Always wants to do it in the middle of the night. Help.
Comment by James
check the manual and the specific type of battery carefully. Mine takes a 9v battery but only the types specified in the manual stopped the chirping
Comment by Chuck
My Kidde CO detector is hard wired and is 1 year old.
2 weeks ago, it begin to chirp intermittently once every 2-3 days.The chirp is always followed by a voice (unintelligible). The rhythm of the voice is like a radio voice transmission. It is normally a male voice. This AM, the chirp begin at 5:45 AM and each chirp is followed by a brief female voice transmission at intervals of approximately every 5-7 minutes. It finally stopped at 6:20 AM. How can I stop my Kidde CO monitor from picking up hand held radio transmission interference that wakes up the whole house? I hope you have a solution that I can personally perform such as an interference filter of some kind?
Comment by brian
I am having the same problem with a CO detector that I bought last fall. I checked the manufactured date and is 4/2009. I doubt that this is at the end of its life barely 1 year old. Replaced batteries 3 times, still chirps. I have concluded that it is junk. Im calling the company’s 1800# tommorow but hope that we’re not sucking fumes in the mean time. This alarm only chirps, no loud repeats
Comment by brian
Also, its the plug in battery back up type
Comment by Tom
I had to replace one of four detectors one year after our condo was built. It was badly contaminated with construction dust and debris. Since then, I replace the back up batteries regularly. Today, year four into the condo, they all began chirping once I replaced the batteries with new fresh batteries. I solved (I hope) the problem by vacuuming each one thoroughly and blowing them out as well. I also checked the contacts for the batteries making sure none of the contacts were “smashed in”. So far, four hours of quiet.
Also a hint, places like Home Depot have “contractor packs”, so you can get a complete set of fresh detectors when the time comes.
Comment by jae
success! but frustrating experience…I came home to chirping smoke detectors after a trip (kiddie 1450′s I think) changed out all the batteries, still chirped. Found that the date on the detector was 12/2001 its 8/2010 as of this writing so I bought new compatible detectors which were shipped with batteries already in, put them up and they still chirped incessantly. I took all the batteries out that they were shipped with and changed to new batteries checking to make sure the contacts were all rightly lined up and so far two hours of quiet and counting.