Smoke alarm help

[jdsl1998]

Our First Alert alarms that came with our home are not functioning well. We now have three of them disarmed. They ping like the batteries are out or going out. Has anyone else had this problem? How can I solve this? Should we buy all new alarms or buy different batteries (these have all new batteries within the year)...if all new, who would you suggest we contact to do the work? Thanks for the help.

[Rango]

Take down each smoke detector and blow off with vacuum cleaner. You should be using alkali batteries. If you get false alarms, you should replace all of them, since they are linked and there is know way of knowing which one is the problem. Are they under warranty?

[obxgal]

My neighbor said once you change the battery you have to hold the reset button in for about 30 seconds to a minute. You will notice some of the other ones chirping, but they are resetting themselves.

[bargee]

We had problems with our detectors about 5 years ago.I called the 800 number on the label and they said the detectors were defective and sent us three new ones at no cost.I don't know if this will work for you but its worth a shot.

[mikeandnancy1112]

I heard not long ago the Villages Fire Department will change them free of charge. Check it out!

[SoccerCoach]

I heard not long ago the Villages Fire Department will change them free of charge. Check it out!

The Fire Department will come and change out the batteries and answer your questions to the best of their ability, no charge.

[LndLocked]

You have one "master" alarm that is a heat/smoke/O2 detector (it is clearly marked as such) and they just fail after a number of years. When they do, they will not show a green indicator light when new batteries are installed and the alarm is reset. They will continue to chirp and will also cause some or all of the other alarms to chirp.

If you have the kind with a 3 pin connector plug (female plug on wires coming out of wall and male pins in the back of the alarm) ... they ONLY place I have been able to find that type is Ace Hardware. They are NOT cheap at about $50.00 (as opposed to the other alarms that are about $20.00) You can bet less expensive smoke/heat/O2 alarms but it will mean that you have to change out the type of connector on the wires coming out of the wall.

[redwitch]

Start by calling the manufacturer. Your detectors may be on the list of defective detectors. If so, they will replace them. The culprit is usually CO2 detector. If it goes out, the other detectors seem to get confused and think they need to chirp, too.

[dplars]

I used to do this stuff: open detector, take a Q tip and clean sensor with rubbing alcohol, this and replacing the batteries should do the trick, if not buy new. good luck, Dave.

[Lovey2]

I'd do the blowing them out and cleaning them off things first. Had the fire department come out to my last home for the same reason. They were dusty inside!! They took every one down, blew them out, wiped them off, and they were fine after that. Always try easy first....:)

[NoMoSno]

Smoke alarms should be replaced every 8-10 yrs.
There is usually a date of mfg., on the back...

[BobnBev]

The Fire Department will come and change out the batteries and answer your questions to the best of their ability, no charge.

YOU supply the batteries, not the FD.

[smcgirl]

We had the same problem and I read online to turn the breaker off and then on..after replacing batteries and unplugging wire in detector. It worked! Good luck.