First: How to identify if your alarm is hardwired or wireless. Hardwired: There are two LED lights on the top of the unit. One light will be solid green, this indicates that the alarm is hardwired and working.
You can do so by taking the smoke alarm down and look at the back for either “Photoelectric” or “Ionization,” or a symbol with the letter “P” or “I” on the back. Once you figure out which type you own, purchase the other type and install one next to each unit.
These days, many states mandate the installation of hardwired smoke alarm systems as part of major remodeling or new construction jobs because hardwired systems provide the maximum, most reliable protection possible.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For homes constructed after January 1, 1989 at least one hard-wired, AC-powered smoke alarm was required on every level of the home, including the basement. The units were required to be interconnected so that activation of any one alarm resulted in the sounding of all of the smoke alarms.
Hard wired smoke alarms are mains-powered and include a battery as a backup in case of a power failure. As it's unlikely that both the power and battery will fail at the same time, hard wired smoke alarms offer an extremely reliable form of protection.
How to Tell If Your Smoke Alarm is Working. Hardwired units will have a steady green LED light to show that it's receiving AC power. Battery-operated units will have a quick flash every 30-45 seconds. This does not necessarily mean the alarm is working.
Since no one can predict what type of fire might start in their home, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends that every home and place where people sleep have: Both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR. Dual-sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
Test smoke alarms every month by pressing their test buttons. If your alarms use regular batteries, swap in fresh batteries at least once a year. A “chirping” sound means that it's time to change batteries. Because alarm sensors wear out, replace each alarm at least every 10 years.
If a smoke alarm is alerting you to smoke, it will make three short beeps, like those in this video. If you hear those beeps, GET OUT and STAY OUT! If you hear a series of ongoing short chirps, this indicates that there is an issue with the power source.
One possibility is that the backup battery has died, even though it's connected to your system. Another reason could be the presence of dust inside the smoke detector, which can disrupt its functioning and result in the beeping sound.
In summary, a flashing green light on a smoke detector can indicate normal operation, a low battery condition, a malfunction or error, or interconnection with other alarms.
You will notice two different lights on your smoke alarm: A steady green light shows the alarm is being powered. A red light that flashes once a minute shows the alarm is working.
"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.
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.
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.
Hardwired Smoke Alarms
Locate the main breaker panel for your home. Identify which circuit breaker powers your smoke alarms. Each breaker should be labeled, so look for something that says “smoke alarm” or something similar. Turn off the circuit breaker for your smoke alarms.
As for hardwired smoke alarms, “those are interconnected through electrical wires, so if one sounds, they all sound, and it can be difficult to figure out what's going on,” Deitrick says. First, try the reset button on each smoke alarm. If that doesn't work, flip the circuit breaker off and on.
Pressing the “Test/Silence” button on the front of the unit should stop it from beeping or chirping. If this doesn't work, grasp the device and turn it counterclockwise. It should detach from the base so you can open the battery compartment in the back. Remove and replace the battery to see if it caused the issue.
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.