How to Fix a Beeping Fire Alarm: Low Battery & More

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Why your fire alarm is beeping and how to stop it

Co-authored by David Decker and Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: October 20, 2024 Fact Checked

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Common Reasons

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Top Fixes

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Warnings

Is your fire alarm chirping or beeping? If you're absolutely positive that there isn't a fire, there are easy ways to make it stop beeping. This wikiHow article will teach you why your fire alarm is beeping and how to make it stop. We'll also provide expert tips from firefighter and paramedic David Decker on how to keep your fire detector from beeping when there's no fire or smoke.

Why Your Fire Alarm Is Beeping

Fire alarms will chirp once the battery level is low. Even hard-wired alarms that have backup batteries will beep when their backup batteries are low. Once your fire alarm starts beeping, you should replace the battery. Test the batteries once a month to ensure they are working properly.

Section 1 of 2:

Common Reasons

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Aside from a fire, fire alarms can beep for different reasons, including:
- Low batteries
- Poor placement
- The alarm is expired or outdated
- The alarm is damaged
- Dust or debris buildup
- You're burning something while cooking
- Humidity & steam

Section 2 of 2:

Top Fixes

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Replace the battery. 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.
- Firefighter and paramedic David 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."
If you change the batteries and leave the door open or shut it incorrectly, the fire alarm will continue to beep.
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.^{[1]
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Move the fire detector somewhere else. 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, 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.
- Install the unit at least 5 feet away from any cooking appliance and 10 feet away from anything that creates humidity.^{[2]
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- Refer to How to Install a Smoke Detector for more dos and don'ts.
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.^{[3]
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Dust can build up inside the unit, even behind dust covers, causing the fire alarm to become more sensitive.^{[4]
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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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Warnings

If you're not sure whether there's a fire, it's best to evacuate the home and call emergency services. Don't take any chances.

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If you hear 3 beeps and a pause from your fire detector, smoke has been detected, and you should evacuate.^{[6]
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