If your alarm is hardwired into your home's electrical system, replace the backup battery at least every 6 months and replace the smoke alarm itself once every 10 years.
As the name suggests, a battery smoke alarm runs on a battery. This can either be a 9v battery with a battery life of between 1-5 years or a 10-year lithium one.
Testing and Changing Your Smoke Detector Batteries
It is recommended you test your alarms at least once a month to ensure they are working properly, and replace the batteries in your smoke alarm every six months. The detector itself should be replaced at least every ten years.
Battery smoke detectors run solely on batteries. Hardwired smoke detectors run on electricity, but they also have a backup battery for power outages. When you hear a hard-wired smoke detector beeping, it means you need to replace its battery.
Mains powered fire alarms which have battery back-ups are far more reliable than solely hardwired, or solely battery powered. They allow for detection for a limited time following the absence of mains power. The battery back up (at full charge) is designed to last 72 hours as per manufacturing standards.
If your home was built after 1986, it will have at least one hard wired smoke alarm connected directly to your electrical panel. It is not acceptable to replace a hard wired alarm with one that is battery operated. A home must maintain at least the same level of protection as originally required.
A “chirping” sound means that it's time to change batteries. Because alarm sensors wear out, replace each alarm at least every 10 years. Also, alarms have labels showing when they were made. If you don't see a label, the alarm is old and must be replaced.
Hardwired smoke detectors can still beep even if there is no battery. Possibly the backup battery might have been activated and that can signal a problem. The backup battery may have run out and that is causing your hardwired smoke detector to chirp.
Can I install a hardwired smoke detector myself? While it is technically possible, it is not recommended. Working with your home's electrical system can be dangerous and complex, best left to a qualified electrician.
The US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have issued NFPA Standard 72, National Fire Alarm and Signalling Code, which states that all smoke alarms (including alarms that use 10 year batteries, and those that are hard wired) should be replaced when they are ten years old, or sooner if they don't respond ...
If your smoke detectors are yellowing, chirping non-stop, or going off unexpectedly, it's time to call in our electrical pros from Integrity Home Solutions. We can inspect and replace hardwired smoke detectors or install them if you don't have them in place already. Don't take a chance on your family's safety.
AA Batteries. 9V has been the battery of choice for smoke alarms for many years. However, nowadays, a more common smoke detector battery is two or three AA's.
Lithium batteries (non-rechargeable): Lithium batteries typically last 10-15 years if stored correctly, with minimal self-discharge.
In hard-wired, battery backup smoke alarms, the batteries need to be checked monthly, and replaced at least once per year. The entire unit should be replaced every 8 to 10 years. Replace your CO detector batteries once a year and the unit every five years.
The backup battery should power the alarm for a minimum of 7 days without electricity to keep your home protected. Modern hardwired alarms require a battery backup.
Dust and debris can easily accumulate inside your hard-wired smoke alarm, causing that incessant chirping sound. This build-up can interfere with the sensing chamber, triggering false alarms. To prevent this, make a habit of cleaning your smoke detectors regularly.
Will taking the battery out of a smoke alarm make it stop beeping? Taking the battery out of a smoke alarm will not make it stop beeping. Even after the battery has died, the detector maintains a residual charge that will keep the chirp going for at least seven days.
If your smoke detector is hard-wired, it may still beep even without a battery. This could be because the backup battery has been activated, signalling a problem. If the backup battery has run out, it can cause the hard-wired smoke detector to chirp.
Also, note that a hardwired smoke detector can beep if its backup battery is low in power.
The smoke detector is on and functioning
Many smoke detectors use an LED light to show you that everything's working properly. If your device's on/off button has a stale red light, it likely means the system is working properly. Some detectors will even use a light that flashes periodically to tell you they're working.
Replacing batteries might be the solution to your problem, even if your smoke alarm is hard-wired. Hard-wired smoke alarms use batteries as a back-up. When those back-up batteries need replacing, the alarm will tell you.
"Replace all smoke alarms, including those that use ten-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are ten years old or sooner if they don't respond properly when tested." Each smoke detector should be replaced 10 years after the date of installation.