Among all the models we've tested, the Nest Protect is the easiest to silence when an alarm is triggered—through the polished and friendly Nest app or by pressing the large button in the center of its face.
Reset the Smoke Detector: Sometimes, a smoke detector just needs a good reset to stop the chirping. You can do this by turning off the power at the circuit breaker, removing the detector from the mounting bracket and disconnecting the power supply. Then, press and hold the test button for about 15 seconds.
Silence Button: Many smoke detectors have a ``silence'' or ``hush'' button. Press this button to temporarily silence the alarm. This is often effective for a short period, but the beeping may resume after some time if the battery issue persists.
An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires (imagine a fire where you can see the flame), while a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoking, smoldering fires (such as a cigarette).
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.
Cons of Ionization Smoke Detectors
This can often lead to false alarms. Ionization detectors can also be triggered by cooking smoke or steam from the shower. Although this usually isn't an issue in public and commercial buildings, it can lead to annoyed homeowners disabling smoke detectors.
Press the silence or reset button: Most alarms come equipped with a “silence” or “reset” button. Locate this button — often on the front or side of the device — and press it firmly. This action usually stops the beeping temporarily while you address the cause, such as replacing a battery or cleaning the unit.
This chirping happens every 30 to 60 seconds for at least seven days. When you hear this, it means the battery needs replacing.
All First Alert Alarms come with a Test Button. With the battery removed from the unit, press and hold this button for 30 seconds. This will fully reset the alarm, removing the residual charge of the previous battery.
If you feel comfortable adjusting your sensor on your own, you will need to remove the data card from your smoke detector. Once you have the data card out of the device, you can use a screwdriver to adjust the card. The necessary adjustments depend on what your specific smoke detector's manual suggests.
Hush Mode: A Temporary Measure
For example, if you know that the smoke detector is overly sensitive, and will always be triggered when you use oil with a high smoke point in the kitchen, then you can hit the hush mode to desensitize and the detector for about seven minutes, during which the alarm will be silent.
Press the hush/silencing button. It will silence the entire interconnected system. The button may also say “test.” It should silence all the alarms immediately unless there's still smoke and debris. It will reset in eight minutes, given that the smoke and debris have dissipated.
Clear Residual Charge to Stop the Chirp
Remove the alarm from your ceiling or wall. Open the cover and take out the battery. Press and hold the test button for 15-30 seconds. This will fully reset the smoke alarm and drain any charge left inside.
Faulty or Outdated Smoke Alarm
If your smoke alarm is chirping or beeping regularly and you have verified that the battery is good, the fire alarm may be faulty, or it may be time to replace it. Many smoke alarms have a set life span of seven to 10 years due to the type of material used for the ionization process.
To get your smoke alarm to stop chirping if you've already changed the battery, first try draining any residual charge by holding the test button down for 15 seconds. If this doesn't solve the problem, clean the unit. A blast of compressed air will often remove the dust particles that are causing the beeps.
A dead battery is the easiest issue to fix when it comes to a chirping hard-wired smoke detector. Although these detectors are wired directly into your electrical system, they also incorporate a 9-volt backup battery. This battery ensures the smoke detector continues functioning, even during power outages.
The beeping sound the low battery alarm makes can become very annoying but can be disconnected by removing the drained battery from your home alarm system panel. Make sure to replace the drained battery with a new one to keep your home alarm system functioning properly.
Pressing the “Test/Silence” button on the front of the unit should stop it from beeping or chirping.
The basic instruction for temporarily silencing your alarm system is to press the silence or hush button, which will deactivate the triggers for a few minutes. Most smoke detectors have this button named 'test,' which you can press and hold for a few seconds to get the job done.
Disconnect the wire harness by squeezing the locking arms on the quick connector while pulling the connector away from the bottom of the alarm. Battery-operated alarms will not have a wire harness.
Determining which type of smoke alarm you currently have can be difficult. If you find anything mentioning radioactive materials, a model number with an “I” or any mention of Americium-241 on the alarm's label, it is an ionization alarm. If you find a “P,” it is a photoelectric alarm.
Iowa and Vermont have passed similar laws banning ionization smoke detectors as stand-alone smoke alarms. Vermont went a step further than Massachusetts by requiring photoelectric-only-type smoke detectors in dwellings.
For best protection, it is recommended both (ionization and photoelectric) technologies be used in homes. In addition to individual ionization and photoelectric alarms, combination alarms that include both technologies in a single device are available.