What is Causing My Smoke Alarm to Sound, Beep, or Chirp?

Is your smoke alarm making noise? Let's figure out why and what you can do about it.

Loud, Continuous Alarming

When your smoke alarm detects combustible products, it goes into alarm mode with a loud, continuous sound. This will continue until the air clears. If it's a false alarm, here are some possible reasons:

• Dirty Sensing Chamber: The sensing chamber may need cleaning.
• Environmental Factors: Humidity, steam, or other environmental conditions could be triggering the alarm.
• Electrical Condition: Power interruptions to the unit might be causing the alarm.

First, make sure it's not a real alarm. Then, learn how to silence a nuisance or false alarm. Here's how to clean your alarm thoroughly:

• Ionization Alarm: Use compressed air to clean the areas indicated by arrows on an i12060 model.
• Photoelectric Alarm: Use compressed air to clean the areas indicated by arrows on a P3010 model.

Consistent Chirping

If your smoke alarm is chirping consistently, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

• Low Battery: The battery may need to be replaced. An alarm will chirp every 30 to 60 seconds for at least seven days.
• Low Battery Announcement: Disconnect the unit and replace the batteries. On newer units, you can put the alarm into low battery hush for up to 12 hours by pressing the test/hush button.

Intermittent Chirping (Without a Regular Pattern)

An intermittent chirp usually means the battery is starting to lose charge. Rarely, it could be due to the white wire becoming loose in the wire nut.

Kidde | Ring Firmware Updates

If you own a Kidde | Ring Smart Smoke Alarm or Smart Combination Alarm – your device may receive a firmware update from time to time to improve product performance.

A firmware update is signified by a series of chirping patterns from the alarm. When the update begins you will hear a series of two short chirps, followed by another series of two short chirps once the update is finished. This process will take about two to three minutes.

If your alarm’s internet connection is interrupted when the update starts, it will install within four hours of coming back online.

Replace Your Smoke Alarms

If your smoke alarms are past the end of their lives, it's time to replace them. Don't wait—ensure your safety by updating your alarms today.

Need Further Assistance?

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our customer care team.

They are available to help you with any concerns or inquiries you may have. Reach out to us for support, and we'll be happy to assist you!