5 Things to Try When Your Smoke Alarm Beeps

6/24/2021 (Permalink)

Installing a fire alarm in each room of your home is very important. The worst thing about them is, when one of the alarms starts beeping. It can take a while to figure out which one is beeping. Then, how do you make it stop? Here are five things to try.

1. Change the Batteries. Start simple and change the batteries. Even if you just did it, it is possible one of them is faulty or you accidentally mixed up an old one with a new one. 

2. Use the Silent Button. Your fire alarm has a test/silent button. Try to use that to stop the beeping. This is probably also a good time to find the manual (or look it up online if it was thrown away) for ways to specifically test your brand of alarm. 

3. Reset the Alarm. A slightly more complicated solution is to reset the whole device. Again, the manual or YouTube can provide help for how to conduct a full alarm reset. Do not get discouraged here, decide that it is not worth the effort, and leave the alarm unarmed. Fire damage occurs when you least expect it, so it is important to keep all your detectors up and running. 

4. Check for Dust. Some detectors are hardwired to your electrical system instead of using batteries. If dust is affecting the wiring, that could be a reason that your alarm is beeping. Use a keyboard air blower to clear out the dust build-up. 

5. Replace the Whole Thing. When no other solution will stop the beeping, it is time to replace the detector. They do not last forever, and chances are that it’s been longer than you realize since you installed your fire alarm. Don’t put this off. The safety of your family could depend on functioning smoke detectors.

Troubleshooting your smoke detector can be a headache, but its worth the effort to keep your family safe from fire and smoke damage. If a fire does occur, a fire damage assessment will help determine the cause.