Smoke alarm problem

[iwannadie]

Maybe someone has some knowledge that can help me out. I recently bought a house and running into the joys of home ownership now.

I have 4 smoke alarms, all hardwired with batteries and seem pretty new. One alarm in the bedroom beeps once a minute as if indicating a dead battery. If I unplug that alarm another one starts to beep once a minute instead. All have solid green light and all function when pressing the test button.

I have changed all batteries(tested the batteries, tried a few brand new ones). I have unplugged each alarm, unplugged battery and held the reset button for 20 or so seconds and reinstalled. Sprayed them all out with canned air. Held reset button while plugged in after fresh battery replacement.

The previous owners had an alarm installed but none of the alarm panels remain and just the main alarm breaker box is here. I am wondering if the smoke alarms are tied into the home alarm system and something their is causing it to chirp? Or maybe a dead home alarm battery that is in the breaker box? Or is it as simple as one bad detector?

The single beep is driving me crazy though and I don't want to start replacing things as they seem fine aside from the beep.

 

[Rob Mayercik]

I know you said they seem fairly new, but are you sure? I've run across a couple whose instructions say they'll chirp like that when they've reached end-of-life (usually around 10 years, I think).

If you can find brand/part number info on them, maybe you can track down the manufacturer online and query them?

 

[HEX-J]

Maybe someone has some knowledge that can help me out. I recently bought a house and running into the joys of home ownership now.

I have 4 smoke alarms, all hardwired with batteries and seem pretty new. One alarm in the bedroom beeps once a minute as if indicating a dead battery. If I unplug that alarm another one starts to beep once a minute instead. All have solid green light and all function when pressing the test button.

I have changed all batteries(tested the batteries, tried a few brand new ones). I have unplugged each alarm, unplugged battery and held the reset button for 20 or so seconds and reinstalled. Sprayed them all out with canned air. Held reset button while plugged in after fresh battery replacement.

The previous owners had an alarm installed but none of the alarm panels remain and just the main alarm breaker box is here. I am wondering if the smoke alarms are tied into the home alarm system and something their is causing it to chirp? Or maybe a dead home alarm battery that is in the breaker box? Or is it as simple as one bad detector?

The single beep is driving me crazy though and I don't want to start replacing things as they seem fine aside from the beep.

What brand are they? Kidde? The above poster is correct, most detectors only have a 10 year life span and will go bad right around that amount of time, especially Kidde detectors. There should be a date on the detector, most big box stores sell replacements. Only thing that should be in the breaker box for the hardwired detectors is the breaker. I've checked/changed hundreds of detectors while working as firefighter....bad detector is the usual culprit.

 

[iwannadie]

Got it thanks guys, I'll check for a date and just go ahead and get 1 new one and see if that fixes it. If it does I'll replace them all.

The breaker box is for a Home Alarm but I am wondering if the smoke detctors are tied into the home alarm causing issues.

 

[HEX-J]

Got it thanks guys, I'll check for a date and just go ahead and get 1 new one and see if that fixes it. If it does I'll replace them all.

The breaker box is for a Home Alarm but I am wondering if the smoke detctors are tied into the home alarm causing issues.

They could be tied in too, there are many out there that are monitored by alarm companies. We weren't allowed to replace those due to liability issues, usually left them a battery powered detector so they had some kind of protection and told them to call alarm company or certified electrician. When you remove the one, and another one starts to beep, it could be sensing a fault in that circuit and going into fault mode(beep). If all else fails, unhook them all, kill the breaker, and replace with conventional detectors. Most fire departments will give them to you if cost is an issue.

Anyway, good luck!

 

[iwannadie]

I replaced the one that was beeping, the date on the old was 2009 so older than I expected. Installed the new one and it beeps too. Must be a problem with the alarm circuit. I may just pull them all and replace with battery powered ones.

 

[N8N_99xj]

Just so you know the 120VAC/9v for backup only, tandem interconnected smoke detectors are required by code for new construction and have been for a while so if that's what you have that's what you should keep. PM me if you need help puzzling it out.

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

 

[Bent]

, tandem interconnected smoke detectors are required by code for new construction and have been for a while

What's the reasoning behind this? If one goes off they all do for a better chance of hearing the alarm?

 

[iwannadie]

I saw some wireless connected ones, figured they'd be good and take the wiring out of my scenrio.

Not trying to skimp or rig anything unsafe by any means.

 

[N8N_99xj]

What's the reasoning behind this? If one goes off they all do for a better chance of hearing the alarm?

yes exactly. Now you're required to have one both inside and outside each bedroom and at least one on each level. So if you're in the basement and there's a fire in an upstairs hallway you'll know immediately.

 

[HEX-J]

Just so you know the 120VAC/9v for backup only, tandem interconnected smoke detectors are required by code for new construction and have been for a while so if that's what you have that's what you should keep. PM me if you need help puzzling it out.

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

Correct. By code that is what is required. If he wants to stay code compliant, then by all means have electrician find problem and replace with hardwired. If you want to make sure your home is protected NOW, use battery powered units.

Here is State by state USFA guide.

http://www.thewfsf.org/sap_usa_files/FEMA_StateSmokeAlarmRequirementsMay2010.pdf

 

[dan1977p]

Have you called the company that installed the alarm to at least get the rundown on how it's setup? I bet the PO left and took crap with him that needed to stay with the system. May be as simple as fixing a connection in the panel.
Have you put a volt meter to the wires to make sure you're even getting power?

 

[iwannadie]

I replaced all the detectors and checked for power. I am certain it is a problem with the home alarm. I looked at the panel and see a few loose wires so someone pulled something from it. I wish the home inspection could have caught something like that.

 

[WB9YZU]

Sorry I didn't read the whole thread, but basics:

2009 is pretty old considering the life expectancy is 10 years.

House detectors are hard wires to the AC and interconnected to maximize notification. If one goes off, they all do.

The burg panel may have monitored them through a dry contact at a detector. This will not be the cause of your chirping.

Try replacing all the batteries. If that doesn't cover it, I'd replace all the detectors and check the wiring.

While you are at it, make sure you have CO detectors, or combo CO/Smoke units installed by fuel burning appliances and sleeping areas. This is current code.

The code books which Mandate detectors in an R occupancy are NFPA 72 and IBC.
Most States have adopted one of the other as their Fire Code.