At some point, it seems like everyone has already dealt with beeping smoke alarms for no apparent reason. It starts creating noises, scaring you out of whatever you are doing.
While the noise can be disturbing sometimes, there are some things that you can do to silence your smoke alarm.
Here are the things you can do to silence your smoke alarm:
- Reset the smoke alarm
- Test the silent button
- Check for dirt
These easy steps will help you solve your smoke alarm issue without any professional help.
Smoke detectors save lives, so you need to ensure that they are working correctly. So, aside from silencing it, you need to ensure that it is not malfunctioning in any way.
Also read: 8 Alarm and Noise Issues for iPhones and How to Fix Them
How To Silence Your Smoke Alarm
Your smoke alarm needs to make noise when it is necessary. So, setting aside your interrupted sleep when it beeps out of nowhere, it is essential to ensure that your smoke detector is working correctly.
However, there are times when the noise your smoke alarm makes is interrupting your quiet time. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to get rid of the unnecessary noise.
1. Reset The Smoke Alarm
An excellent old reset is always a useful option when your smoke alarm is making noises. But the problem is that resetting smoke alarms is a little complicated. The reason, it that these devices are hardwired together.
So, if one of the smoke detectors in your home is running out of battery or has an error, it can cause the other alarms to make beeping noises. To fix the issue, you will need to reset the smoke alarms. In this case, you will need:
- A couple of 9-volt batteries
- A step ladder
Moreover, it is worth noting that the best thing to do is reset and change your smoke detectors’ batteries.
These are the steps that you need to follow to reset your fire alarm:
- Switch the power off at your circuit breaker.
- Take off the smoke alarm from the mounting bracket and unplug the power supply.
- Remove the old batteries.
- Without installing the new batteries, press and hold the test button for about 20 seconds.
- After resetting, wait for the smoke alarm to beep once more.
- Install the new batteries and plug the power supply back in.
- Turn the circuit breaker on.
- Reattach the alarm to the mounting bracket.
2. Test The Silent Button
Your smoke alarm has a mute button that allows you to prevent it from making unnecessary beeping. However, the mute button sometimes turns off all by itself, causing it to still make noises.
That said, check if the mute button of the smoke alarm has its mute button switched on. Generally, you will find the smoke detector’s cover.
But if you are not sure having some trouble looking for the mute button, you can always check the user manual. The same goes if you are not sure if your smoke alarm has a silent feature.
3. Check for dirt
If you reset your alarm and the beeping did not stop, then chances are there is dirt or dust stuck in between the detector and the wall. This dust and dirt buildup inhibits the sensors, causing the smoke alarm to make noises.
To fix this issue:
- Separate the smoke detector from the wall.
- Get a vacuum with a crevice tool or compressed air.
- Remove the dust buildup using the vacuum or canned air.
Ensuring That The Smoke Alarm Has No Damage
Installing a smoke alarm is an excellent way of keeping your home and your family safe. However, for this device to save your life in case of a fire, it has to work perfectly.
Electronic devices are not damage-proof. So, just like any other device, the batteries of your smoke detector will eventually die, and the device itself can wear out over time.
For that reason, regularly testing your smoke alarm is an excellent way to ensure that it does not have any damage. This way, your smoke detector will do its job in case something unfortunate happens.
But before maintenance, you need to know that there are two significant types of smoke alarms:
- Battery-operated
- Hardwired
Battery-operated smoke alarms can be prone to defects, so monthly testing is advisable. It is also important to regularly replace the batteries.
Meanwhile, hardwired detectors run using your home’s electrical system. Still, you can use batteries so the detector will function in a power outage. (5)
Here are the steps for making sure that your smoke alarm is not malfunctioning:
- Tell your family members that you are going to test the alarm. Smoke detectors create high-pitched noise that may frighten your loved ones if they are unaware that a test is going on. Telling your housemates about the alarm test that you will do will help you avoid scaring them and creating a false alarm.
- Make sure to station someone somewhere in your home that is furthest from the detector. This step will help you ensure that everyone can hear the alarm everywhere in your home. Additionally, it is ideal for installing another detector in the areas where the sound is muffled or weak.
- Press and hold the test button of the smoke alarm. This step will prompt the device to make loud, high-pitched noise. If the sound is weak or the device does not make any sound, install new batteries.
It is also vital to ensure that the smoke alarm does not have dust buildup blocking its grate and preventing it from working.
Checking your smoke alarm once a month is ideal. But you may need to check the device more often if the detector is constantly giving false alarms. If the alarm is regularly emitting short beeps, you also need to check your smoke alarm.
Another indication that something is wrong with your smoke alarm is if kitchen smoke causes it to activate often.
Sources
- Sara Clark, How to Turn Off That Beeping Smoke Alarm, Country Living, https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/a29420120/how-to-turn-off-smoke-alarm/
- What to Do If You Have a Nuisance or False Alarm, Kiddie.Com, https://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/support/help-center/browse-articles/articles/what_to_do_if_you_have_a_nuisance_or_false_alarm.html/
- Lauren Slade, Smoke Detector in Hush Mode: What Does This Mean, Brinks Home, https://brinkshome.com/smartcenter/smoke-detector-in-hush-mode-what-does-this-mean/
- How To Fix Beeping Smoke Detectors?, Koorsen Fire & Security, https://blog.koorsen.com/how-to-fix-beeping-smoke-detectors#:~:text=To%20clean%20it%2C%20disconnect%20the,in%20and%20reconnect%20the%20detector./
- Hardwired vs. Battery-Powered Smoke Alarms—Which Is For You?, R.S. Andrews, https://www.rsandrews.com/hardwired-battery-powered-smoke-alarms-you/
- How To Test Your Smoke Detectors And Fire Alarms, Allstate.Com, https://www.allstate.com/tr/home-insurance/test-smoke-detectors.aspx/
- How Often Should I Check My Smoke Detector and When To Change Batteries, News Week, https://www.newsweek.com/amplify/how-often-should-i-check-my-smoke-detector-when-change-batteries/