Your alarm manufacturer may have included a blinking red light to let you know it's time to test the alarm again. The Batteries are Low: Usually accompanied by a loud beep, a blinking red light could mean the batteries in the unit are low. Consider adding fresh batteries and running a test to make sure it's working.
A red blinking light on a smoke and CO2 alarm can have different meanings depending on the brand and model of the alarm. It can indicate that the battery is low, that there is smoke or dust in the air, that the alarm is functional, or that it needs to be cleaned or reset.
Low Battery: This is the most common reason for a red blinking light on a smoke detector. Even if you've just installed it, the battery may not have been fully charged, or it may have drained during installation. Replace the battery with a fresh one and see if the blinking stops.
If you have a First Alert smoke detector, a blinking red light means that the batteries are low. If you have a Kidde smoke detector, a blinking red light every 30-40 seconds means that the batteries are low.
A blinking red light on a smoke and CO2 alarm can mean a few different things. It could mean that the batteries are low, that the unit needs to be replaced, or that there is smoke or carbon monoxide present. If the green light is still on, it's likely that the unit is still working properly.
3 If the red LED flashes at a separate time from the chirp, a fault is indicated. If within warranty contact Technical Support. Otherwise replace immediately. If troubleshooting does not resolve the problem and you believe the alarm is still faulty - remove the alarm and replace.
Flashing Red
This is completely normal across all alarms as long as there is no sound. If this is accompanied by a chirp every 45-60 seconds then the battery may need replacing.
A constant red light is a sign that everything is in perfect working order. However, if you notice the light flashing and hear beeping, it's an indicator that there might be an issue with your power supply. If the problem persists, our services department is here to help you every step of the way.
Why did my fire alarm randomly go off in the middle of the night? This is likely due to one of the common causes like low battery, dirt buildup, humidity, or insects interfering with the sensor. Test the alarm and clean it thoroughly to try and resolve the issue. Make sure batteries are fresh and secure.
For some units, a green light flashing every 5 seconds signifies that the device is in “battery only” mode, powered by AC. When the detector senses a smoke or carbon monoxide hazard, the green light might become steady, whereas in “hush” mode, it may flash every 2 seconds.
This is typical behavior for a hardwired smoke detector that has battery backup. The steady green light indicates that the detector is receiving line power. The short red flash every 30–60 seconds indicates that the internal self-test for proper functionality has passed.
In a smoke detector the red-light flashes once every 5 seconds under normal operation with its filter intact. A hidden camera may have different light flashing patterns. A hidden camera smoke detector may not have an indicator at all. Normal smoke detectors are completely enclosed with only the sensor window open.
Sometimes, smoke detectors will keep going off for no reason when they have reached the end of their life span. Fire alarms have a lifespan of about 10 years, after which they will need to be replaced. Smart smoke detectors can help eliminate some of the annoyances related to false alarms.
If the unit malfunctions, the red LED light will flash and the unit will chirp every 30 seconds indicating a system problem. If the red LED flashes every 60 seconds WITHOUT an audible chirp, this is the pre-warning that the battery will soon need replacing. The alarm is battery-operated with a 9V battery.
After smoke levels drop below alarm levels, the “Smoke” Red LED will begin to flash On for 2 seconds/Off for 2 seconds. It will continue to flash or “latch” for about 15 minutes, to give you time to determine which unit initiated the alarm.
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO, it can make you pass out or kill you.
Meaning: A flashing red light typically indicates that the detector has sensed carbon monoxide in the environment.
Why is my smoke detector blinking red, but there's no sound? If your smoke detector blinks red but no alarm goes off, the device could be warning that the battery levels are low. While that's a primary reason for a blinking red but silent smoke detector, much depends on the particular make and model.
The smoke detector will automatically reset itself after 10 minutes and re-sound an alarm if the smoke is still detected. If you want to manually reset the smoke detector so that the red blinking light will stop, you can press the test/silence button for a few seconds.
The smoke alarm is desensitized by pushing the Test/Hush button on the smoke alarm cover. If the smoke is not too dense, the alarm will silence immediately and the red LED blinks every 10 seconds. This indicates that the alarm is in a temporarily desensitized condition.
On many carbon monoxide alarms, the red light flashes to show the CO alarm is properly receiving battery power. For these alarms, when you do not see the red light flashing, change the batteries in the alarm immediately.
Call for Help: If you cannot identify a simple reason for the alarm (like a low battery) or if you suspect elevated levels of CO, call emergency services or the fire department immediately.