Fire alarms are a great for homes as they provide fire safety and general protection. They alert us the moment their sensors get even the slighted smoke waft, making it why fire alarms are an absolute necessity to be installed in our homes. Nonetheless, these sensitive home components are also able to create a sense of frustration perpetually, even with no obvious cause. This happens when they begin to beep endlessly.
Why is my alarm beeping!? Make it stop!!
Smoke detection is the primary reason why a fire alarm will start beeping. Hence, to be able to determine the cause of any alarm beeps, the first step should be ruling out the presence of fire or smoke. Once the danger of a fire has been eliminated, potential malfunctions and other possible causes can be investigated safely.
Commonly, fire alarms beep due to the following reasons:
1. Dirt or Foreign Material on the alarm
Insects and dirt may collect in the chamber of the alarm’s sensor. If these dirty materials accumulate, it may begin to beep. So, the good practice to help avoid this problem is to clean the smoke chamber whenever the battery is change.
You can use the following steps to clean your fire alarm:
- Remove the alarm from the mounting bracket
- Use a vacuum cleaner or compressed air to clean the alarm’s interior
- Use a damp cloth to wipe the outside of the alarm clean
- After this, reinstall the alarm and ensure everything is returned to its place
2. Improperly/ Loosely Installed Battery
To rule out this as one of the reasons that cause your fire alarm to beep, there are a number of things to look out for.
First, make sure that the battery type is the recommended one. It must also be securely installed into the alarm. So, check the battery and fix it properly and see if the problem goes. The battery you choose for your alarm should have a use-by date that’s not later than 4 to 5 years.
Another thing to check on the battery is that it’s completely snapped in. This will rule out the chance of it being shaken loose. It’s therefore, advisable to disconnect and reconnect the battery once or twice. If your system uses a front-load battery, ensure that the door to the battery compartment is closed completely.
3. Pushed Test Button
For any reason, the test button may have been pushed down. For example, when cleaning is being done, it’s possible that the test button had been pushed. This test button can be reset to stop the alarm from being. To do this, first, you need to disconnect the fire alarm from the power source by removing its battery. Then, for roughly 15 seconds, hold the test button down. After the brief alarm has faded the button should be released and the battery returned.
4. Temperature Changes
If the temperature in the house increases significantly, alarm beeps may be triggered. Equipment such as steamy showers and ovens are often the causes for these temperature changes. Therefore, try to make efforts to eliminate any such thing that increase the temperatures in the house. For instance, when showering, you can use exhaust fans or open windows when you need to bake with the oven.
5. Electrical Problems
The hard-wired types of fire alarm units often have a battery back-up. However, due to electrical problems, some of them will start beeping. If you suspect a problem with electrical connections, it’s better to get the help of a certified electrician and have them inspect and repair the problem.
These are the major reasons why your fire alarm could be beeping. Take the steps recommended above to solve the specific problem with yours. However, if you’re not sure that you can do it, it’s okay to get an expert to do it for you.
