Question about First Alert smoke detector

[casita37]

One of our smoke detectors went off a few days ago while I was cooking (not a good sign for dinner...), anyway...it alarmed for a couple of minutes. Later, it starting doing that beep that you get when the battery is low. Well, we thought since it rang for so long, it must have used up the battery. The beep continued, every so often....not all that often...for a couple of days.

Hubby finally put a new battery in this morning. We almost immediately got the beep. Battery was fine and connected properly. We don't have the manual, so I looked on line and the only thing helpful stated that if the silence button got pushed, it might cause the beep once per minute, for up to 15 minutes, while the system reset itself.

That was about 10:00 this morning, and only the one beep (not once per minute) until just now. About 5 minutes ago it beeped and again right this minute. It's like it has a mind of it's own.

Does anyone know what we need to do? Thanks so much!! :)

[memason]

One of our smoke detectors went off a few days ago while I was cooking (not a good sign for dinner...), anyway...it alarmed for a couple of minutes. Later, it starting doing that beep that you get when the battery is low. Well, we thought since it rang for so long, it must have used up the battery. The beep continued, every so often....not all that often...for a couple of days.

Hubby finally put a new battery in this morning. We almost immediately got the beep. Battery was fine and connected properly. We don't have the manual, so I looked on line and the only thing helpful stated that if the silence button got pushed, it might cause the beep once per minute, for up to 15 minutes, while the system reset itself.

That was about 10:00 this morning, and only the one beep (not once per minute) until just now. About 5 minutes ago it beeped and again right this minute. It's like it has a mind of it's own.

Does anyone know what we need to do? Thanks so much!! :)

You probably have a defective CO2 alarm. Call the 800 number on the detector and they will send you a new one, free.

[casita37]

Will do....thanks, memason!!

[DangeloInspections]

memason is correct.
I too would suggest calling the 800 number. They will want to know the model number, etc....

You do not say how old the smoke detector is, or weather it is a smoke detector only or one of the combo Smoke/CO detectors.

Smoke detectors go bad every so often. If they are approaching the ten year mark, I strongly suggest replacing them with new ones. For the important job they do and the low cost of them, it is a wise decision.

If you do replace your smoke detectors, I strongly suggest switching to a photoelectric smoke alarm over the less expensive ionization smoke alarms that most folks have.

The issue is a bit complex and not without controversy. The public is rightfully confused about them.

In a nutshell, ionization alarms go off quicker in a FLAMING fire, but do have more false alarms, which lead foolish people to disable them. Photoelectric alarms go off much quicker in SMOLDERING fires. They do make dual alarms, which have both.

This has nothing to do with Carbon Monoxide alarms- a different subject.

Anyway, without knowing the age and type of alarm you are speaking about, the only advice worthy of offering is as memason wisely suggested.....call First Alert.

Good luck!

Frank D'Angelo, ACI

[upstate]

memason is correct.
I too would suggest calling the 800 number. They will want to know the model number, etc....

You do not say how old the smoke detector is, or weather it is a smoke detector only or one of the combo Smoke/CO detectors.

Smoke detectors go bad every so often. If they are approaching the ten year mark, I strongly suggest replacing them with new ones. For the important job they do and the low cost of them, it is a wise decision.

If you do replace your smoke detectors, I strongly suggest switching to a photoelectric smoke alarm over the less expensive ionization smoke alarms that most folks have.


The issue is a bit complex and not without controversy. The public is rightfully confused about them.

In a nutshell, ionization alarms go off quicker in a FLAMING fire, but do have more false alarms, which lead foolish people to disable them. Photoelectric alarms go off much quicker in SMOLDERING fires. They do make dual alarms, which have both.

This has nothing to do with Carbon Monoxide alarms- a different subject.

Anyway, without knowing the age and type of alarm you are speaking about, the only advice worthy of offering is as memason wisely suggested.....call First Alert.

Good luck!

Frank D'Angelo, ACI

+1, beat me to it Frank. I prefer to change detectors every five years, they are inexpensive compared to the possible alternatives.