Why Is Your First Alert Smoke Alarm Beeping/Chirping?

PDF download Download Article
Learn how to get your smoke detector to stop chirping
PDF download Download Article

Do you know the variations of beeps of a First Alert smoke alarm? Beeps sound different depending on the situation, and this wikiHow guide goes over that difference as well as lists some troubleshooting steps you can take to stop the alarm from beeping.

How Do I Get My First Alert Smoke Detector to Stop Beeping?

An alarm chirps when it's low on power. If you've replaced the battery with a new one and it's still chirping, reset the smoke alarm to clear out any residual power. Make sure the unit isn't giving off nuisance alarms caused by a bad location or faulty wiring.

Section 1 of 3:

Beeping vs. Chirping

PDF download Download Article
  1. It's a good idea to learn the difference between the two sounds:
    • 3 beeps with a pause is an emergency sound; your unit has detected smoke and/or CO. You need to evacuate your home and call 911 . [1]
    • Softer, shorter beeps indicate low battery or some other issue. The next section lists fixes for issues that could make your First Alert Smoke Alarm chirp.
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Easy Fixes

PDF download Download Article
  1. Most often, a chirping First Alert Alarm means that it's low on battery.
    • If you hear a single chirp every 30-60 seconds, you most likely have a low battery and simply need to change them .
  2. If you hear chirps even after putting in new batteries, you need to reset the smoke alarm to clear any residual charge from the previous batteries.
    • Remove the battery and press the Test button on the unit for 15-30 seconds, then reinsert the new battery to see if the alarm is working normally again. [2]
  3. Most alarms last 7-10 years after the manufacture date, which you can find on the back of your unit.
    • This might be the case if your unit is chirping constantly or in a pattern that you don't recognize.
  4. Dust can build up inside the unit, even behind dust covers, so use a vacuum's soft brush attachment to clean them at least once a month.
    • This most often is the case when the alarm goes off (3 beeps and a pause) and you cannot find any smoke.
  5. There might be a loose or damaged wire that's restricting how much power the alarm is getting from your home's electrical system. In that case, it'll most likely use up the backup battery and chirp like it's low on battery charge.
  6. Some locations are bad for alarms and smoke detectors, so any in these places can have nuisance alarms (alarms triggered by environmental factors, not CO or smoke).
    • Bad locations include dusty, dirty, greasy areas like garages, but also 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.
    • Install the unit at least 5 feet (1.5 m) away from any cooking appliance and 10 feet (3.0 m) away from anything that creates humidity. [3]
    • Refer to How to Install a Smoke Detector for more dos and don'ts.
    7. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Silence Beeping with Onelink Alarms

PDF download Download Article
  1. First Alert's Onelink alarms are smart alarms that you can control remotely with an app on your phone (iOS only). This means you can stop nuisance alarms (like those triggered by dust) for several minutes or stop the battery chirp for up to 8 hours. If you silence a smoke detector, the alarm will stay off for 15 minutes, but will sound again if the smoke has not dissipated or has increased. If you silence a CO detector, it will stay off for 4 minutes, but if the CO levels are still high, the alarm will beep again. [4] There are two ways that you can silence your alarms:
    • Open the Onelink Home app and tap Press & hold to silence .
    • Press the Test/Silence button on your unit. [5]

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Disable a Fire Alarm
      3 Ways to Tell the Difference Between a Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.firstalert.com/us/en/safetycorner/what-does-the-smoke-alarm-beeps-mean/
      2. ↑ https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/alarm-chirps-with-new-battery
      3. ↑ https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Proper-placement-for-smoke-alarms-CO-alarms-and-fire-extinguishers
      4. ↑ https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Silence-Onelink-alarms
      5. ↑ https://www.firstalert.com/ca/en/faq/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 12,180 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Doc P.

        Apr 29

        "Clear, easy to understand steps. Demonstrations for each fix were particularly helpful."
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement