When Your Smoke Detector Chirps: What To Do
I had just settled into bed last night when I heard an electronic chirping noise. I knew what it was, but the question was: what to do about it?
A few years ago, my wife and I decided to have an addition built on to our home. When the electrical work was done, several new, hard wired smoke detectors were installed to bring things up to code. I had just settled in to bed last night, when not one, not two, but three of them started to chirp. I realized that the batteries that were installed nearly four years ago were dying. It was nearly 11:30, and there was not a fresh 9 volt battery in the house. So, after following instructions and testing each unit, things settled down.
I checked the manufacturers website on what to do, and got these tips from First Alert:
It is likely that the reason your smoke detector keeps chirping and beeping is that the battery is low. Whenever your smoke detector keeps chirping, replace the battery immediately.
• A different device or appliance such as a security system, monitor, carbon monoxide alarm, or other device which has a similar low battery or alert signal.
• Some of the same factors that cause unwanted alarms can cause intermittent alarms: dust and insects in the detector or power interruptions in hardwired detectors.
• Improper wiring on AC or AC/DC smoke alarms. AC alarms will chirp every 5 seconds if the interconnect wire is grounded. The orange interconnect wire should NEVER be grounded; it should only be used to interconnect other smoke alarms or compatible devices.
I will be stopping on the way home for a 9 volt battery multi pack!
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