Common Reasons Why a Fire Alarm Sounds 3 Times

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Troubleshoot your beeping fire alarm and find a quick fix
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Is your fire or smoke alarm beeping 3 times? If the alarm beeps 3 times, pauses, then beeps 3 times again in a relatively short amount of time, the alarm has detected smoke and there's an emergency. However, if your alarm beeps 3 times, waits 10-20 minutes, then beeps again, something else is wrong with it. The incessant chirping sound can be irritating, but your fire alarm is signalling that something is wrong. Read on to learn more about fixing your beeping fire alarm as well as get tips from firefighter and paramedic, David Decker.

What does it mean when my fire alarm beeps 3 times?

If your fire alarm beeps 3 times, pauses, beeps 3 times, etc., it's alerting you to smoke. This is an emergency sound and you need so evacuate the premises and call 911 . However, if your alarm beeps 3 times and stops for 10-20 minutes before beeping again, you can have other issues, like low batteries or a dead unit.

Section 1 of 5:

Is it an emergency?

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  1. If you hear that beeping from your alarm, it's an emergency, and you need to evacuate to a safe distance and call 911 . [1]
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Section 2 of 5:

Other Reasons Your Alarm Might Chirp

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    • Low batteries
    • Poor placement
    • The alarm has expired or is outdated
    • The alarm is damaged
    • Dust or debris buildup
    • You're burning something while cooking
    • Humidity & steam [2]
Section 3 of 5:

Fixes to Stop Fire Alarm 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 hard-wired fire alarms, as they have backup batteries to keep them working in case of a power outage.
    • 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.'"
  2. If you change the batteries and leave the door open or shut it incorrectly, the fire alarm will continue to beep.
  3. To make it stop beeping , try pressing and holding the reset button on your fire alarm 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.
  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.
    • Bad locations include dusty, dirty, and greasy areas like garages and areas with combustion particles, like kitchens. You also want to avoid putting your CO alarm or smoke detector in high-humidity areas like your bathroom.
      • Smoke from burning food or humidity from a hot shower can trigger false alarms.
    • Install the unit at least 5 feet away from any cooking appliance and 10 feet away from anything that creates humidity.
  5. If your unit is chirping constantly or in a pattern you don't recognize, it may have reached the end of its life due to age, exposure to water, paint, stickers, fire, or grease, or has been hit with force. Most fire alarms last 7-10 years after the manufacture date, which you can find on the back of your unit. If you’ve had the unit for more than 10 years, it is time to replace it.
  6. 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.
  7. There might be a loose or damaged wire restricting 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 low on battery charge.
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Section 4 of 5:

Smoke vs Fire Alarm/Detector

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  1. However, they function differently even though they share a main goal: to sense smoke or fire. Any of these units will detect any type of combustion, like smoke from the oven or smoke from an actual fire, and alarm you.
    • While the terms might be interchangeable, know that smoke detectors are most commonly found in smaller homes and fire alarms are mostly used in larger buildings. [3]
    • A fire alarm has many connected smoke detectors, so a fire in a wing of a building will evacuate the entire building instead of that one wing.
Section 5 of 5:

How many beeps for carbon monoxide?

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  1. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas, so you won't be able to see or detect it yourself. If your alarm goes off, evacuate the area and call 911 . [4]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.firstalert.com/us/en/safetycorner/what-does-the-smoke-alarm-beeps-mean/
      2. ↑ https://mesaalarm.com/blog/smoke-alarm-3-beeps-then-nothing/
      3. ↑ https://brinkshome.com/smartcenter/smoke-detector-vs-fire-alarm-whats-the-difference
      4. ↑ https://www.firstalertstore.com/store/categories/carbon_monoxide_alarms_FAQ.htm

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