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-   -   Alarm Batteries & Smoke Alarms Going Off ALL THE TIME IN MY HOUSE (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/alarm-batteries-smoke-alarms-going-off-all-time-my-house-356750/)

Paddygirl 02-21-2025 11:07 AM

Alarm Batteries & Smoke Alarms Going Off ALL THE TIME IN MY HOUSE
 
The new batteries in the smoke detecters are beeping and getting changed on average every 2 months .

I replaced all the detectors 1 year ago. Doesn't matter the new batteries still beep every 2 months

ALSO

The smoke detecter goes off even when I fry an egg! or bake in the oven. And it is LOUD!!!

Needless to say my alarm is now hanging off the wall.

I'm going bonkers



Can someone help me or quide me on what to do? THANK YOU!

villagetinker 02-21-2025 11:42 AM

I do not know which brand of detectors you have, but as I recall I needed to do a system reset after replacing the batteries. There are a few possibilities, one or more of the detectors is faulty, I do recall there was a recall for smoke detectors recently you should be able to search the government recall website. You may have a faulty battery causing the alarms. When you replaced all the alarms did you use the same make/model, and are you sure the interconnected wiring was connected properly? If you did a mix and match on the detectors this could be causing the problem. Also, if you are not the original owner, look for a detector in the attic, this recently happened to a friend of mine.

Pondboy 02-21-2025 03:16 PM

Smoke detectors are also interconnected so when one goes off, they all go off. So if there is one defective one, they will all go off.

On top of what VT said, I’d also hook up the batteries to a voltmeter to make sure that they are fully charged. Just to eliminate all potential issues.

keepsake 02-21-2025 04:50 PM

at times 9 volt isn't enough
 
Using a voltmeter I have found cheap smoke detector will 'chirp' even with battery going from 9.3 volts to 9.03
Probably detectors made by a subsidiary of a battery company !!
So use the batteries you take out for other things -- still 90% capacity.

CarlR33 02-21-2025 06:59 PM

I found if you look at the make and model that you have and search the internet for the manual might help. Also try contacting the manufacturer for assistance.

Bay Kid 02-22-2025 08:39 AM

The fire department has a division to help with smoke detectors. If you buy new ones they will install them. Also they will replace batteries you buy.

MarshBendLover 02-22-2025 09:32 PM

Smoke detectors can and will get old. You need to replace every few years. I would have fire come by and do an inspection.

MorTech 02-23-2025 02:22 AM

The Villages Public Safety Department: 352-205-8280
They will help with smoke detectors free of charge.

Rocksnap 02-23-2025 05:14 AM

Answers are correct. The fire department will come once a year to replace batteries you buy. With 10’ ceilings and nothing but a small step ladder, that’s a big help. But it sounds like you have a glitch in the system somewhere. An electrician should be able to troubleshoot that easy enough.

dsiebenberger 02-23-2025 05:41 AM

Look for the one flashing red and replace it

retiredguy123 02-23-2025 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorTech (Post 2411307)
The Villages Public Safety Department: 352-205-8280
They will help with smoke detectors free of charge.

They will replace detectors and batteries that you provide. But, if the OP's description is accurate, this will not solve the problem. Detectors should last about 10 years and alkaline batteries should last about 4 years. If they are failing every 2 months, you need an electrician to diagnose the problem. By the way, replacing the batteries every year is a waste of time and money.

jimkerr 02-23-2025 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CigarMaster (Post 2411289)
Smoke detectors can and will get old. You need to replace every few years. I would have fire come by and do an inspection.

She said she replaced all of them already.

thevillagernie 02-23-2025 06:13 AM

smoke detectors
 
Make sure the one that chirps in the kitchen is rated properly,I was told that one is for flame and the other is for smoke.....make sure the one that is going off is rated for flame not smoke

jimkerr 02-23-2025 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CigarMaster (Post 2411289)
Smoke detectors can and will get old. You need to replace every few years. I would have fire come by and do an inspection.

That’s incorrect a smoke detector does not need to be replaced every few years. The general rule is to replace them every 10 years.

retiredguy123 02-23-2025 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimkerr (Post 2411332)
That’s incorrect a smoke detector does not need to be replaced every few years. The general rule is to replace them every 10 years.

Correct. Some of the newer detectors are actually designed to stop working after 10 years and they must be replaced.

MorTech 02-23-2025 06:55 AM

Look at First Alert SMICO105-AC for replacement...Comes with 10 year battery.
The detector should be replaced every 10 years regardless.
The Villages Public Safety Department: 352-205-8280 will help with any questions.

JoelJohnson 02-23-2025 07:01 AM

When we moved into our (1999) new house, I replaced all the smoke detectors with the built in 10 year battery. I also put a label on each one with the year put in. So far, no problems.

retiredguy123 02-23-2025 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorTech (Post 2411345)
Look at First Alert SMICO105-AC for replacement...Comes with 10 year battery.
The detector should be replaced every 10 years regardless.
The Villages Public Safety Department: 352-205-8280 will help with any questions.

The detectors with built-in batteries are really not any different from the detectors with replaceable batteries. If you want the battery to last 10 years, just buy lithium 9-volt batteries. Note that the sealed detectors with built-in batteries are designed to meet the code that requires a stand-alone detector, that is not connected to the house wiring, to have a sealed battery. Otherwise, detectors with replaceable batteries will do the same thing.

Kamaaina 02-23-2025 07:26 AM

Mine started alarming as they turned 10 years old. There date of manufacture is on the back side, which you can see when you twist the unit. I found a package of six detectors on Amazon for a good price and replaced all six of mine. As others have stated, you can contact the fire department and they will come to your house and install the new ones for you. This is what I ordered from Amazon: Amazon.com

retiredguy123 02-23-2025 07:30 AM

Unless the OP is buying defective detectors and/or batteries, the issue is not the age of these items. The OP said that all of the detectors were replaced one year ago, and the batteries are being replaced every two months.

Sully2023 02-23-2025 07:31 AM

Fire alarms
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Paddygirl (Post 2410896)
The new batteries in the smoke detecters are beeping and getting changed on average every 2 months .

I replaced all the detectors 1 year ago. Doesn't matter the new batteries still beep every 2 months

ALSO

The smoke detecter goes off even when I fry an egg! or bake in the oven. And it is LOUD!!!

Needless to say my alarm is now hanging off the wall.

I'm going bonkers



Can someone help me or quide me on what to do? THANK YOU!

Try calling the local fire department and ask someone to come out and look at what you have for fire alarms. I bet they will recommend certain ones and where to place them in the home.

retiredguy123 02-23-2025 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sully2023 (Post 2411364)
Try calling the local fire department and ask someone to come out and look at what you have for fire alarms. I bet they will recommend certain ones and where to place them in the home.

Why not just take a photo of one of them with the model number on it? Or, remove one and take it to the Fire Department. As I understand it, the Fire Department's only function is to install detectors that the homeowner provides. If there is an issue with the system, the OP should call an electrician.

maistocars 02-23-2025 08:44 AM

I just had that and I noticed the white wire from the alarm became loose from the connector and I had to reconnect it. You could also have the Fire Department take a look - it's a service they provide to us old folks.

virtue51 02-23-2025 08:51 AM

I replaced all the smoke alarms last year because they were old -- DO NOT Purchase Kidde smoke alarms -- an alarm would go off for no reason -- when I contacted Kidde they told me to check for insects. In one week, the Kidde smoke alarms went off four times -- I returned the Kidde smoke alarms to Kidde and they would not refund my money. After reviewing on the internet, it was a common problem -- so Kidde knew there was a problem and would not stand behind their warranty. I also found out that there were many recalls on their products over the last 10 years.

MicRoDrafting 02-23-2025 11:22 AM

IF
the detectors are sounding
after an average of 2 months,
appears that they may be draining the batteries … which may mean the circuit breaker was tripped when you replaced the units.

As for sounding the alarm when you simply fry an egg … that is the primary reason why smoke detectors are installed at the sleeping areas only

chris237 02-23-2025 06:00 PM

I know this isn’t exactly your scenario, but your new batteries could be bad.

I replaced all my smoke detector batteries a few months back with new, name brand batteries. All was fine for the first day, The next day one of the detectors started chirping at me. I purchased another package of batteries and a friend stopped over with a battery tester. The “new” battery from the chirping detector showed it to be “low”. We checked the newest package and they all tested at full power. I ordered a battery tester for future use!

JDRVKR 02-24-2025 11:03 AM

Detectors with combination smoke and carbon monoxide go bad more frequently and a new battery will not make it work.

keepsake 02-24-2025 11:31 AM

There is no reason why our beloved govt should allow these combo detectors.
For one:
CO is heavier than air and will crawl along your floor.
Smoke will rise and hang at your ceiling.
Tell me how a combo detector makes you safe ????

MorTech 02-24-2025 03:53 PM

No need to bring science into this :)
A CO detector is useful in a 1970s garage.


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