Smoke Alarm Troubleshooting

If you’re hearing a strange chirping near your ceiling, it’s probably not a family of birds coming to nest – it’s more likely to be your smoke alarm letting you know that the battery needs replacing. Likewise, if your alarm seems to be going off for no apparent reason, it may be that some simple maintenance needs to be done.

Rather than ignoring or putting up with the noise, there are some things you should do to get to the bottom of it. After all, you need to be able to rely on your smoke alarm, and for peace of mind, you need it to be operating correctly.

There’s nothing more annoying than a smoke alarm chirping intermittently or setting off at every hint of steam or burning toast. It’s not a good idea to disconnect or interfere with smoke alarms, even when they won’t stop beeping, because they need to function in an emergency. Instead of resorting to desperate measures, use these tips to troubleshoot next time your alarm is going off for no apparent reason.

Dirt and insects are a very common reason for smoke detectors going off inappropriately. Physical obstructions can interact with the sensor and cause your smoke alarm to activate. For a quick solution, carefully dust and vacuum your smoke alarm to remove dirt. You can also spray insect repellent around the alarm (avoid spraying the alarm directly!) to deter bugs.

To maintain optimal functioning, smoke alarms should undergo regular services that include a thorough cleaning.

Steam and cooking fumes can cause smoke alarms to go off. Shut bathroom and laundry doors to contain steam, use the exhaust fan when cooking and open up doors and windows for ventilation. If you’re using the toaster or another portable appliance, point them away from the smoke detector if possible.

Photoelectric smoke alarms are less sensitive to steam while still detecting real fire events. A professional technician will know how to place smoke detectors to keep them away from steam and fumes while still adhering to legislative requirements.

In high humidity, condensation can cause water vapours to form and cause the smoke to react as it would to smoke vapour. If you suspect this is happening, you can dry the smoke alarm yourself by gently blowing a hair dryer through it to evaporate moisture.

Another common culprit is rapid air movement created by fans or fan heaters, so point portable fans, heaters, radiators and air conditioning ducts away from smoke alarms. When installed, smoke alarms should also be placed away from air conditioning ducts.

Power surges can cause hardwired smoke alarms to beep. It should resolve itself after the power issue has passed, but if not, you can try resetting the power by flipping it off and on again at your circuit box.

In some areas of QLD and NSW, electricity suppliers inject an off-peak signal onto the network (a ‘ripple’), which can set off smoke alarms. If your smoke alarm beeps at the same time each day, it could be this.

A beeping alarm can signal a low battery. In keeping with legal requirements, smoke alarms should be regularly serviced to ensure batteries are kept fresh. In some Australian states, it’s now a requirement that alarms are fitted with 10-year lithium batteries or hardwired into the mains power supply, so properly fitted alarms shouldn’t have battery issues. If the battery is faulty at a Detector Inspector enrolled property, you can request an urgent service to get it fixed.

Star Plus Electrical’s team of experienced technicians offers a thorough yearly service and safety inspection of smoke alarms in your home to safeguard you and your loved ones from the dangers of smoke inhalation. You can rest easy knowing that your home is fully compliant and your family is protected by fully functional smoke alarms.