Why Alarm Chirps With New Battery?

A smoke detector usually chirps in case of an emergency, like a fire or excessive smoke. Although, sometimes, there can be faults in the alarm system or the batteries.

Therefore, we need to look properly for the faults before it is too late. We can replace the battery or the alarm and look into other faults.

There are many reasons why the smoke detector is chirping without an emergency, and we will discuss them in detail. 

Why Does My Smoke Detector Keep Chirping Even After I Change the Battery?

A smoke detector’s alarm is very sharp. It can be irritating if the alarm does not stop, even if there is no smoke around. Usually, it happens due to some abnormalities or faults in the detector. 

We must find those faults and stop them from chirping before the alarm gets too loud and shrinks in our ears.

There are many ways to detect what is wrong with our alarm. They can be:

1. Low battery

One of the reasons for the continuous chirping of the smoke alarm may be that it is running out of battery. If it emits a single high-pitched sound in thirty seconds or so, we can confirm that the problem is with the battery. We can change the battery, and eventually, the alarm stops chirping.

2. Dust

Sometimes the smoke detector mistakes dust and dirt as smoke and starts chirping as an indication of an emergency. Smoke also has a lot of dirt and dust; therefore, dust can also be the reason if the alarm is chirping without any emergency.

3. Sunlight

Sunlight also has a good amount of heat. If the sunlight is falling directly on the smoke detector, there are chances that it can consider the heat as a sign of emergency or fire. Therefore, sunlight is an environmental factor that can also be the reason for an alarm to be continuously chirping.

4. Improperly installed battery

If the batter is not installed correctly, the alarm will likely to malfunction. Therefore, we need to check if the battery is installed correctly, and if the battery is faulty, it is better to replace it.

5. Tripped circular breaker

The alarm will chirp continuously if the circular breaker is broken or tripped. If noises are loud, as in case of an emergency, without an actual emergency, there is likely a tripped circular breaker. We need to replace or mend it.

6. Residual charge from the previous battery

The alarm will beep if the previous battery has left some residual charge. We need to clear it and adequately reset our alarm.

7. Faulty alarm

If the alarm of the smoke detector is faulty, it will also keep beeping without any trouble. If the alarm can be repaired, then we can repair it. Otherwise, changing the alarm or getting a new smoke detector is better, as we do not want the irritating chirp noises to continue.

Whenever we purchase something, we must maintain it. It is likely to malfunction if a product does not get the maintenance it is supposed to get. To maintain our smoke detector, we can:

• Clean it regularly.
• Place it away from the sun or any heat radiating substance.
• Place it away from non-dangerous smoke-emitting substances.
• Replace its batteries at regular intervals.

How Do You Reset the Smoke Alarm After Replacing the Battery?

Resetting the smoke alarm after the battery is replaced is quite simple. Some left residuals might contribute to the alarm malfunction. So, we need to reset the alarm whenever we replace the battery to drain the residual charge. We need to follow some simple steps to do so carefully.

Description– Resetting the smoke alarm after the battery replacement in case of battery-operated and wired alarms.

Tools needed– A smoke detector.

Time – 5-10 minutes

1. Battery-operated alarms-

It is pretty simple to reset the alarm in case of battery-operated alarms. The steps we need to follow are:

• First, we need to remove our battery.
• Then, we will find a test button. We need to click the test button and hold it for about fifteen minutes.
• Then we need to replace/re-install the battery, and we are done.

2. Wired alarms-

Wired alarms usually use home electricity to run. But they also have backup batteries in case the electricity runs out.

These batteries need to be removed at regular intervals, and while removing the batteries, the alarm needs to be reset.

The alarm can be reset by following the steps below:

• At first, the central power system, or the house’s main power breaker, must be turned off.
• Then, the alarm’s power connection should be disconnected.
• Then, we need to take the alarm out.
• After the alarm, the backup battery should be taken out.
• Like in the previous alarm, we need to press the test button and hold it for fifteen seconds.
• The new backup battery should be put inside.
• The alarm should be connected to the home power supply through the cable.
• Then, we need to replace the alarm.
• Then we need to turn the home’s power supply back on, and we are done with the steps.

How Do I Get My Alarm to Stop Chirping?

We can follow some steps to stop the alarm from continuously chirping without any sign of an emergency. They are:

• First of all, we need to replace the old battery of the alarm. 
• As discussed earlier, we need to drain any residual charges from the previous battery if we are replacing it. It is essential to do so for the proper functioning of the alarm. To do that, we need to remove the battery and press the test button for fifteen seconds. Now we need to put the new battery properly.
•  If the alarm continues to beep, we can follow step 2 again.
• If none of the above three steps brings any changes, we need to replace the alarm, which indicates that it has outlived its lifespan.

There can also be other reasons to beep continuously, without emergencies. They can be:

• Excessive heat- If it is placed directly in sunlight for a long time, it might mistake the heat as a fire sign.
• Smoke from non-dangerous resources- Some toys can emit fake smoke; smoke from other non-dangerous sources can be mistaken by the smoke detector as actual smoke and cause the alarm to beep.
• Excessive dust – If the smoke detector is not cleaned correctly, it may chirp, as smoke has dust and dirt.

If none of these reasons are why the alarm is chirping continuously, then it is likely that it needs to be replaced.

FAQ

Final Talk

This article taught us about smoke detectors and how to improve any faults. As discussed earlier, inadequate maintenance also leads to spoiled products over time. Therefore, we should maintain and clean the smoke detector from time to time and protect it from any damage from the beginning so that it does not cause any problems in the future, like a malfunction.