6 Troubleshooting Tips for a Randomly Beeping Fire Alarm

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Common reasons your smoke alarm chirps at night & easy solutions
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Are you hearing your fire or smoke alarm beep randomly at night? You might only hear it at night because the noise of the day covers it up, or maybe that's when the low-battery threshold triggered the alert. Read on to learn more about fixing your beeping fire alarm, as well as get tips from firefighting expert David Decker.

Fire Alarm Randomly Beeping at Night

Your house cools down at night, and this, coupled with a low fire alarm's battery charge, causes your fire alarm to chirp at 3 am. Other possible causes include a dusty or debris-filled environment that can trigger a false alarm.

Section 1 of 5:

Why is my fire alarm beeping at night?

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  1. As a smoke detector or fire alarm's age approaches 7 to 10 years, the amount of power it produces creates internal resistance. As the night progresses, your house cools down, increasing that resistance. Ultimately, this signals to your fire alarm that there's a problem, triggering a low-battery chirp that indicates it may not work properly in an emergency. [1]
    • You might notice that the beeping stops when the house warms up a few degrees. [2]
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Section 2 of 5:

Common Reasons Your Alarm Might Beep

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  1. [3]
    • Low batteries
    • Poor placement
    • The alarm has expired or is outdated
      • In this case, nighttime's cooler temperatures can trigger the low-battery sound specifically overnight. [4]
    • The alarm is damaged
    • Dust or debris buildup
    • You're burning something while cooking
    • Humidity & steam
Section 3 of 5:

How to Stop Your Fire Alarm from Chirping

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  1. If you hear a single chirp from your smoke detector every 30-60 seconds, the batteries are likely low, and you should change them. This also applies to hardwired fire alarms, as they have backup batteries to keep them working in case of a power outage. [5]
    • Decker recommends testing your fire alarm's battery once per month and replacing the battery twice a year. A good way to remember to change your fire alarm's battery is to do so when it's time to set the clocks back or forward. "In the state of Ohio," Decker says, "the motto is 'Change your clocks, change your batteries.'" [6]
  2. If you change the batteries and leave the door open, or if it's not closed all the way, the fire alarm will continue to beep. Open and close the battery compartment door, and make sure you hear a click when it latches. Also, make sure the batteries are not loose inside the compartment. [7]
  3. To stop the beeping, press and hold the reset button on your fire alarm for 15 to 20 seconds to reset it. The reset button is usually on the face of the smoke alarm, but you may need to remove the face on some models. [8]
  4. Some locations are bad for alarms and smoke detectors, causing nuisance alarms (alarms triggered by environmental factors, not CO or smoke).
    • Decker recommends not installing fire detectors near doors, windows, or air ducts, as the fresh air can prevent smoke from triggering the alarm. [9]
    • If your fire alarm is installed in your kitchen, make sure it's at least 10 ft. from any cooking appliances. [10]
  5. Dust can build up inside the unit, even behind dust covers, causing the fire alarm to become more sensitive. Use a vacuum's soft brush attachment to clean the inside of your fire alarm once every two years. [11]
  6. A loose or damaged wire might restrict how much power the alarm is getting from your house. In that case, it'll most likely use up the backup battery and chirp like it's a low battery charge.
    • If you have a hardwired alarm on a 120V circuit, it may have been installed on your lighting switch. In that case, you'll hear the alarm only after you turn off all the lights in your house. The chirping means the hardwired power is gone, and it's using battery. [12]
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Section 4 of 5:

What to Do If It's Still Beeping

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  1. If your unit still beeps randomly at night, or has some other beeping pattern you don't recognize, and you have already replaced the battery, it's likely at the end of its life span. Even if it hasn't been 7 to 10 years since installation, exposure to water, paint, stickers, fire, grease, or hazardous conditions can decrease its life span. [13]
    • If you have a professionally installed system of interconnected fire alarms, contact a professional.
Section 5 of 5:

Prevention Tips

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  1. 1
    Test your fire alarm regularly. To ensure proper operation of your fire alarm and prevent it from beeping at random, press the Test button on the unit monthly. If the alarm doesn't respond to your test, replace the batteries. If that doesn't fix the problem, replace the entire unit. [14]
  2. 2
    Replace your fire alarms every 7 to 10 years. Fire alarms do not last forever. All smoke alarms, whether hardwired or battery-powered, should be replaced when they are 7 to 10 years old, or sooner if they have not been tested regularly. [15]
    • You can find a new smoke detector on Amazon , as well as in many retail and department stores.
  3. 3
    Choose an optimal installation location. Fire alarms should be installed on every level of your home, as well as in every bedroom. To avoid false alarms and intermittent beeping: [16]
    • Avoid installing file alarms in dusty areas, such as garages, crawlspaces, furnace rooms, and unfinished attics. For locations like these, consider a heat detector instead of a smoke detector.
    • Keep your alarm out of direct sunlight and away from HVAC vents.
    • Avoid installing close to appliances that emit combustion particles. This includes fuel-burning sources like wood stoves, heaters, and furnaces. For best results, install your fire alarm 20 ft. from such appliances.
    • Install kitchen fire alarms at least 5 to 10 ft. away from your stove.
    • Instead of placing a smoke detector in a high-humidity area like a bathroom, sauna, or laundry room, put the unit directly outside the room.
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      Tips

      • If you're not sure when your smoke alarm was last replaced, you can usually find the manufacturing date on the rear side of the unit. [17]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.kidde.com/support/smoke-alarms/nighttime-alarm-chirps
      2. ↑ https://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/support/help-center/browse-articles/articles/smoke_alarm_beeping_overnight.html
      3. ↑ https://www.kidde.com/support/smoke-alarms/intermittent-beeping-causes
      4. ↑ https://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/support/help-center/browse-articles/articles/smoke_alarm_beeping_overnight.html
      5. ↑ https://www.firstalert.com/blogs/safety-corner/time-to-change-smoke-alarm-batteries
      6. ↑ David Decker. Firefighting Expert. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ https://www.kidde.com/support/smoke-alarms/intermittent-beeping-causes
      8. ↑ https://blog.koorsen.com/how-to-fix-beeping-smoke-detectors
      9. ↑ David Decker. Firefighting Expert. Expert Interview
      1. ↑ https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/smoke-alarms/installing-and-maintaining-smoke-alarms
      2. ↑ https://www.ci.ramsey.mn.us/FAQ.aspx?QID=99
      3. ↑ https://viox.com/do-smoke-detectors-have-their-own-circuit-breaker/
      4. ↑ https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Are-my-smoke-alarms-still-good
      5. ↑ https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/smoke-alarms/installing-and-maintaining-smoke-alarms
      6. ↑ https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/smoke-alarm-replacement-10yr
      7. ↑ https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Proper-placement-for-smoke-alarms-CO-alarms-and-fire-extinguishers
      8. ↑ https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/smoke-alarm-replacement-10yr

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