There are many different reasons why your fire alarm may be sounding. But before turning off a fire alarm, you should always check that there isn’t any fire or smoke in or around your home. You should check for a fire even if you think it’s a false alarm. If you think there may be a fire, leave your home and call 911 right away.

If your smoke alarm gives a false alarm or chirps due to a low battery, there are steps you can take to help prevent it from happening in the future. Here are a few fire alarm fixes for your home. 

Ways to turn off a smoke detector

You should never turn off your smoke detector, but there are ways to fix its low battery. Installing fire alarms is a smart and affordable way to help protect your family, pets and home from potential smoke and fire hazards. While a smoke detector’s shrill alarm can help alert you to smoke or fire nearby, constant false alarms or chirping can give anyone a headache.

A false alarm on a beeping smoke detector can be caused by sensors that are dirty and many other factors. Here are a few solutions to help you avoid the headache of false alarms and use your smoke detectors to the best of their ability.   

How to temporarily silence fire alarm low-battery alerts

A chirping or beeping fire alarm likely means that the device’s battery is dying. Replace the batteries as soon as possible if the smoke alarm has replaceable batteries. Or replace the alarm if the smoke alarm is sealed with a 10-year battery and it’s chirping. 

If your alarm is beeping, it may also be due to a power outage, low battery or a failure to recharge the system’s backup battery.

While it’s important to stay in tune with your alarm’s battery needs, silencing a beeping alarm temporarily is possible. For many ADT systems, an alarm or low battery trouble beeps can easily be silenced. Just press the OFF or # button on your keypad. 

If pressing those buttons on your keypad doesn’t silence the low battery alerts on your fire alarm, please check your system user’s manual  for more detailed next steps. 

Why is my smoke detector or fire alarm beeping?

A fire alarm typically beeps due to a low battery. Two of the most common causes of low battery alerts on a smoke alarm are that your system’s battery needs to be recharged or replaced. Give your system 48 hours to recharge the system battery if your smoke detector battery needs recharging.

You can silence your smoke detector’s beeping by pressing the device’s OFF button and replacing its battery. If your battery needs replacing, you can easily order replacement batteries. To do so, ADT customers can log into their MyADT  account and click on the Replace Battery tab.

Your smoke detector or fire alarm may also be beeping because the device is sensing fire, smoke or something similar to a fire or smoke in your home. Some other non-emergency causes of beeping from false smoke alarms can be from smoke alarm placement in certain areas of a home.

How do you stop or prevent your smoke alarm from constantly beeping?

If you have frequent false alarms and beeping in your home due to your smoke alarm, you may want to move the devices to more ideal locations to prevent yourself from hearing constant beeping. Smoke detectors installed above areas where steam or smoke occurs should be moved. 

Some of the best locations for smoke detectors in your home are: 

• Every bedroom
• Hallways
• Near fire hazards like fireplaces
• Near the kitchen’s opening or in a hallway headed to the kitchen
• Near stairways 

Why would a smoke alarm beep 3 times if there’s no smoke or fire in the house?

Sometimes smoke alarms beep even if there’s no smoke or fire present in your home. Here are a few instances and locations within the home where you may want to avoid installing a smoke detector to help prevent it from creating false alarms.

    o   Smoke from cooking or burnt food in the kitchen

• Smoke detector false alarms frequently happen in kitchens. Burnt popcorn or overcooked items in the bottom of toasters can set off alarms. Try to set up your smoke alarm a reasonable distance from these areas to avoid false alarms. 
• Smoke alarms are sensitive so that they help save lives. The purpose of your smoke detector is to sense a fire in your home. Don’t set up fire alarms too far from any fire hazards. 

    o   Fireplace smoke or residual smoke from outdoor campfires 

• A smoke alarm located near a fireplace, patio or grill may have frequent false alarms. Move the fire alarm a little bit away (but not too far) from a door or window near the fireplace, grill or patio if you notice beeping from your fire alarm every time you use it. 
• It’s a good idea to get a chimney inspection annually to help prevent excess debris that could cause excess smoke and damage to the inside of your home.

     o Presence of steam and high humidity in the air

• Some smoke detectors can’t tell the difference between smoke particles and humid air or water leaks. In areas with high humidity, your fire alarm can be triggered by moisture in the air. Circulate air in your home with a fan or open window and turn off humidifiers to help prevent false alarms from humidity.
• Replace your smoke detector if water gets inside it. 
• Steam also can trigger your smoke alarm. Make sure your smoke detectors are set up far from showers, stovetops and humidifiers to help prevent chirping from false alarms

     o  Smoke alarm low battery life

• You may get false alarms if your hardwired smoke detector’s battery life is fading or if the detector isn’t connected correctly. 
• Check if the battery is connected by taking off the outer casing of the smoke detector. Now is a good time to change the battery. 

  o   Dust, bugs or other debris in the smoke detector

• Dust inside your smoke alarm can reflect light particles and create a false alarm. The movement of small bugs can also set off your fire alarm. 
• Clean your smoke alarm by removing its outer casing. Use a vacuum or aerosol cleaner to remove dirt or debris. Be careful of the sensors while you clean the detector. 
• Avoid spraying pest control substances directly around your smoke detectors because the chemicals can damage the electronics.

 o Chemicals on or in the air around the smoke detector 

• Smoke detectors can go off due to harsh chemicals like cleaning products or bug sprays. 
• Vent areas when painting or using cleaning chemicals to help avoid false alarms from your smoke detector and to give yourself fresh air.

 o End of smoke alarm life (after 10 years)

• If you still have a false alarm after replacing your smoke alarm’s batteries and checking the device for dust and bugs, it’s time for a new smoke detector.

How to maintain smoke alarms

Maintaining your smoke detector year-round is important to help keep it operational. Dust and particles in the air that collect over time during normal use can throw smoke detectors off. The smoke detector should be cleaned from time to time to remove those dust particles. 

Additionally, if you take part in any activities that could create dust or smoke like remodeling a home or soldering near a smoke detector, there are steps you can take to prevent false smoke detector alarms. 

• ADT customers can put their system on Test Mode to prevent false alarms from happening and also check out our system test page.
• It may be a good idea to remove the smoke detector or cover it with plastic before beginning construction right next to a smoke detector. 
• It’s important to remember while painting that painting a smoke detector will cause the device not to work anymore.  

How to clean a smoke detector

1. Put your system in Test Mode. Please refer to the System Test page.

2. Take the detector housing out of its base by turning it counterclockwise. 

3. Remove the battery from the smoke detector. 

4. Wait at least 20 seconds for the power-down sequence to complete. 

5. Turn the smoke detector cover counterclockwise to remove it. 

6. Vacuum the cover or spray it with canned air to remove dust. 

7.  Lift the top half of the screen/sensing chamber to remove it. 

8. Vacuum or use canned air to remove dust in the chamber sections. 

9. Replace the top half of the screen/sensing chamber by lining up the arrows on the housing and screen/sensing chamber. Press down until the screen/sensing chamber is in place. 

10. Place the smoke detector’s cover over the screen/sensing chamber and turn it clockwise until it snaps into place. 

11. Put the battery into the battery compartment matching the orientation noted. Red and green LEDs will flash once every 5 seconds for about 20 seconds until the power-up cycle is done. 

12. Replace the smoke detector’s housing on its base. 

13. Test your smoke detector. 

14. Remove your smoke detector from Test Mode and refer to the System Test page.

NOTE: Remove the smoke detector’s battery for 20 seconds and reinstall it if the device shows maintenance trouble after its power-up sequence is complete.

How often should I change the batteries on a smoke alarm?

Smoke detectors should be tested monthly and have their batteries replaced once a year to ensure they continue to operate safely. You can check if your smoke detector has a low battery by looking at your system keypad for signs of trouble conditions. 

It’s easy to change the battery in your smoke detector. Visit the sensor battery replacement page if you need guidance on which battery to use. Once you have your replacement battery ready, you’re ready to change the batteries on your smoke alarm.

How do you replace a residential smoke alarm battery?

It’s important to replace your residential smoke alarm battery at least once a year so that it continues to help protect you and your family. Here’s how to replace the battery::

1. Find the area where the smoke detector’s low battery signal is coming from. You can find a trouble condition and zone number on most system keypads. 

2. Put your system into Test Mode. You will hear a short siren and beeping sound from your panel every 30 seconds. Learn more about Test Mode. 

3. Turn the smoke detector’s device cover counterclockwise about half an inch to remove the device from its base. 

4. Remove the old battery/batteries all at the same time. 

5. Keep the battery out of the device for 30 seconds and then install the new battery in the appropriate locations. 

6. Attach the smoke detector back to the mounting bracket by lining up the ridge on the body of the device with the arrow on the smoke detector’s base. Turn the detector cover clockwise about half an inch. 

7. Test the smoke detector to make sure that the batteries are installed correctly. Verify that your smoke detector is working properly by pressing and holding its test button for about 30 seconds or until its siren sounds.

8. Reset your keypad. Refer to your system manual or log into MyADT system identification page for more information. 

9. Don’t forget to remove your system from Test Mode.

10. Recycle your smoke detector’s old battery.

How to test your home’s smoke alarm

You should run a test to make sure that your home’s smoke detector is working properly once a month. It’s easy to test your system regularly. Here’s how: 

1. Put your system into Test Mode. Check the System Test page for more info.

2. Find the Test Switch  (a recessed switch or visible button) on the smoke detector’s housing. 

3.  Depress the Test Button if it’s there, or use a small screwdriver or Allen key to push and hold the recessed test switch for at least 5 seconds. The smoke detector’s LED will indicate if it’s functioning by blinking once a second and sounding within 3 seconds. To silence the smoke detector sounder, release the Test Button or remove the tool from the recessed switch. 

4. Take your system off Test Mode. Refer to the System Test page if needed.

How often should you replace your home’s smoke detectors?  

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire alarms have an average lifespan of about 10 years. After 10 years, all fire alarms should be replaced. Occasionally, smoke detectors are triggered for no reason when they are near the end of their life.

Smart smoke detectors can help you avoid some of the annoyance that constant false alarms can cause. Smart smoke detectors send notifications that alert you when batteries are running low. You can also easily integrate smart smoke alarms with your system. 

Smart smoke detectors also let you check the status of your home in an emergency.  

Where should smoke alarms be installed?

When smoke alarms are set up in the right places in your home, you can help protect your home from fire. The number of rooms and floors of your home helps to determine the number of smoke alarms you have.

According to the National Fire Protection Association:

• Smoke alarms should be mounted high on the wall or on a ceiling
• At least one smoke detector should be on each floor 
• Put at least one smoke detector outside all sleeping areas
• Include smoke alarms outside every room in hallways 
• Put smoke alarms in each bedroom
• Install smoke detectors in the living room and near stairways leading upstairs or downstairs 
• Put smoke alarms on the ceiling of the basement next to the stairs leading up to the next level

Put fire safety first

Thinking of upgrading your home’s fire safety? ADT has the home security and life safety solutions to help protect you and the things you love. Our professionally monitored smoke detectors help keep your home, family and pets safe. 

Contact us to customize your system or learn how we can add fire safety protection to your home security package.