Smoke detectors can save your home and your life from fires, but what if they aren’t working properly? In this blog, we’ll go over the most common signs a smoke detector needs maintenance and review the simple steps you can take to care of this piece of equipment.
Beeping and Blinking
Constant home smoke detector beeping and/or blinking may be annoying, but it is alerting you to a problem with your unit. So, while it may be tempting just to silence your smoke detector when it starts making noise, check for the following causes:
Low Battery
If you’re hearing random smoke detector chirps seeing your smoke detector blinking red, it’s likely the unit just needs a new battery. Your batteries should be changed between every six months to one year. Typically, smoke detectors take 9V or AA batteries, making the swap a simple process.
Loose Wiring
If you changed your smoke detector’s battery and it’s still chirping or blinking red, the next step is to check the unit’s wiring. Many smoke detectors are hardwired but use batteries as backup power. If a wire is loose, the unit will start beeping to alert you. Check this by carefully removing the smoke detector from its mounting bracket to reveal any attached wires. If you see a loose wire, call an electrician like Landis Electric LLC immediately for a professional repair.
Broken Circuit
The last common reason for your home smoke detector beeping is that the circuit its connected to has no power. If you’ve replaced the battery and there are no visibly loose wires, this could very well be the case. Check your breaker box to make sure all your circuits are receiving power. If the circuit connected to your smoke detector is flipped, switch it back on and see if that stops the chirping. If everything looks as it should and you’re still dealing with home smoke detector beeping, it’s time to call an electrician.
False Alarms
Smoke detectors can be very sensitive since they must detect small particles that indicate fire is present. However, this can sometimes lead to smoke detectors that seem to sound off for no reason. There is usually a reason, it’s just not the reason for which the unit was designed. For example, steam and other cooking fumes, along with chemical aerosols can trigger smoke detector alarms. In this case you may want to try turning on your kitchen hood vent or opening a window.
It isn’t just airborne particles that can cause home detector beeping. Dust, dirt, and pollen that start off airborne can settle into the smoke detector’s alarm chamber. This can trigger the chirping you may be hearing. To keep your smoke detector clean, use a vacuum’s soft brush attachment and gently suck out any dust particles on the outside of the unit. Next, carefully open the smoke detector’s cover and remove the batteries. Using either a dry microfiber cloth or spraying compressed air, clean the inside of the sensing chamber. Never use water or cleaning chemicals when removing dirt and debris as these could damage the smoke detector. And always test your alarm after cleaning to ensure that dirt build up was the cause of the smoke detector chirps.
No Alarm When There Should Be
A lack of home smoke detector beeping can be just as alarming as excessive chirping. If smoke enters your home and the alarm doesn’t go off, you need to fix this problem as soon as possible. First, check to see if there’s a dead battery, loose wire, or flipped circuit. If none of these symptoms are present, then it’s likely time for a new smoke detector. These units typically last around 10 years after which they need to be replaced. If you aren’t sure how old your smoke detector is, don’t worry. Smoke detector chirps are common at the end of their life, alerting you that you need to act.
General Maintenance
The best way to avoid annoying smoke detector chirps and to ensure its longevity is by performing regular maintenance. For example, test your smoke alarm every month by pressing the test button. You should also perform this test after every battery replacement or repair. It’s also a good idea to replace your batteries once a year even if you don’t see your smoke detector blinking red or beeping loudly. This ensures that your unit is always fully charged and lessens the chance of you hearing distressing chirps when it’s safe. You’ll also want to clean your smoke detectors with a vacuum cleaner or compressed air at least once a year. This will prevent debris build up which could hinder your smoke detector’s ability to work. Performing all these tasks is vital to keeping your smoke detector running as it should and preventing major issues down the line.
Keep Your Home Safe with Landis
A healthy smoke detector is a must to keep your home safe from disastrous fires. However, not all issues related to home smoke detector beeping are easily solved. That’s why we at Landis Electric LLC provide expert electrical services as well as guidance for our customers, so you can maintain your home in a safe manner. Call to schedule a consultation today and receive professional electrical services from our experienced and caring team.