Cleaning Smoke Alarms - Identifying a BAD Detector - Preventing False Alarms

How To Silence A Smoke Detector False Alarm
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What to Do If You Have a Nuisance or Smoke Detector False Alarm Activation
The other day my daughter called me to tell me the smoke alarms in our house were going off. She told me she had been cooking but there was nothing smoking so she was confused and felt it was a false alarm. Sometimes smoke detector false alarms occur. If a false alarm is activated, one of the following may be the reason:
The battery may be loose
The sensor may be dirty
Humidity, or steam
An electrical surge
The alarm is over 10 years old or may have reached the end of its life
Silencing The False Alarm
Always check to make sure that your alarm was not triggered by an actual smoke, CO2 or fire conditions.
Like many alarms, our smoke detectors have a Hush® feature which will desensitize the smoke alarm circuit for up to 8 minutes. Pushing the Test/Hush button on the alarm will end the hush period. This feature should be used only when a known alarm condition, such as from cooking, activates the alarm.
The Hush feature will work if the smoke is not too dense. After 8 minutes the smoke alarm will automatically reset and sound the alarm if particles of combustion are still present. The “Hush” feature can be used repeatedly until the air has been cleared from that area.
On hardwired alarms systems only hushing the initiating unit will silence all other interconnected alarms. I asked her to check the house first, and then explained to her that she needed to find the smoke alarm that was initiating alarm unit she could silence it.
Finding the Initiating Smoke Alarm Unit - look for the alarm blinking red ever 1-second
Smoke Detector False Alarm - No Smoke
That very next morning at 5 am the smoke alarms went off again. Now I realized that it’s was not my daughters cooking but the smoke detectors must have a dirty sensor.
Smoke Detector False Alarm is most commonly caused by something interfering with the sensor. Dust buildup, cobwebs or bugs can trick the sensor into a false alarm or cause a malfunction.
My current smoke alarms are a photoelectric and CO2 combination alarm. I replace my smoke alarms every 10 years [Recommended] and these units are 6 years old. So I’m sure they need cleaning, and if that doesn’t work then replacement.
Cleaning the Smoke Detector
To clean, after disconnecting the alarm and removing any removable battery: hold the unit by its edge and thoroughly vacuum out the gap between the front cover and the backplate all the way around the perimeter with the crevice tool attachment of a vacuum cleaner. I also use a combination vacuum and compressed air and blow air through the same gap.
This is a great time to replace the battery. Once done reinstall the smoke alarm and see if you’re efforts worked. If you continue to get a smoke detector false alarm, replace the unit. See Updating Your Smoke Alarms

[@dawnc1386]

Thank you for sharing this information! Our alarm was installed, new, last November. The date on the alarm is march 2022. It was purchased last November from Lowe’s. This morning around 5:30 the alarm beeped twice. 20 minutes later, it beeped three times. We looked around and didn’t see or smell any smoke, then tested the alarm. When tested, it chirped three times. I wish the company had 24 hour call line, however, I thankfully found this video! Smoke alarms going off are no joke and not understanding what’s going on is unsettling! Hopefully this cleaning method solves the issue and we can know our alarm is safe again!

[@madelinepark7944]

okay so its been 10 hours or so since I vacuumed each unit for 10 mins each and no sounds. AMAZING. Thank you for saving my sanity!!!

[@karenflores4987]

watching this because the alarm went off in my room while i was sleeping on a Sunday at 6:30am.

[@Friendly_G]

Damn that must suck. Chances are you probably went to sleep real late on Monday

[@Pembroke.]

Don't you love when they go off before your alarm clock? However many years I was living in a house where the basement had a strong odour emanating of sodium and sulphur; bad enough that it killed 2 smoke alarms. I ended up moving for this from the residence weeks later as the smell was getting stronger; I never did find out the root of that smell. The house sits abandoned now which is sad as it was a nice old house that made your eyes burn, have a nice weekend Rob.

[@z.stone9016]

I'm having a an intermittent slow beep, so I started watching videos. Yours is the most informative! I now know what to check, and how to clean it. I replace the battery twice a year--when daylight savings time starts and ends. Mine are hard wired. Thanks for giving me the proper cleaning method! Never thought to do more than the outside! Thank you! And, I both 'liked' and subscribed! Edit: I made the preparations to climb the ladder and clean the chirping detector. First, I turned off the ceiling fan and waited a few minutes before starting. A few minutes later, I realized I no longer heard the chirping! Don't know what happened but I'll keep the fan off fr now!

[@mikeknevelbaard6338]

Finally a good video on false alarms, thank you very much. I wish I found this one four videos ago.

[@njproductions407]

Thank you for this to the point, practical video on how to resolve this issue. Will troubleshoot as you suggested and go forward.

[@tominater117]

Thanks - great video. Ours went off last night at 3am, currently disconnected will be cleaning today.

[@zhelko]

thank you, i just had one go off last week and thought it was the battery but it wasn’t. fixed it only after blowing some air through it

[@J_LOVES_ME]

We have the hardwired Kidde alarms and they are all linked together. At 2:30am they went off..... UGH! Thankfully it only lasted about 5 minutes then stopped. I was sound asleep and stumbling all over our 3-story house looking for fire evidence (there was none). Now today I need to figure out what happened and make a plan in case it happens again. I just replaced them about 2 years ago, so they are still well within the 10-year period. Thanks for the video, now at least I know how to identify the one that is starting it, and I know how to hush them.

[@stevenmink1913]

I also have the same hardwired Kidde alarms, and ours went off at midnight. Thanks for the advice.

[@Kazal0r]

Me too, does one going off automatically tip off the others?

[@thebnbaldwin]

Great post. Smoke detectors are a mystery to most and, there is really a lot to know about them and, fire code. I replace a couple of batteries for a client recently and had to stand on the top rung of my 20' extension ladder and stretch to get the battery out with my finger tips. No OSHA inspectors were present. The home owner was smart enough to purchase 10 year lithium batteries, thank God! But it raises the question, what in God's name are these architects and builders thinking, putting them up that high in the foyer walls?!!!

[@sirbobdesign]

Best Video I have found.... most are Chip/battery fixes. My alarms are wired.

[@denisek8677]

Great video. To the point and well-explained. Thank you!

[@bestherc1951]

I almost have a heart attack. At 5 am in the morning the fire alarm went off and after running like a chicken without head we found out it was my bedroom. Picture this, I am 69 years old my daughter 26 and I have 3 dogs and 3 cats and no man on the house. We disconnected the battery and when we were able to calm down enough to get on the Internet and I found you. Though I am 69 I do lots of handy work at home but electrical work it is my boogieman. It is going to be hard to go back to sleep. Waiting for daylight and I will do what you suggest. Thank you very much.

[@eeaotly]

I am awake because my fire alarm is beeping. I was upset about this and the fact that I gonna have a white night. But I started laughing at the "running like a chicken without head". :-))) (Oh, my God! I can barely type this because of laughter!) Thank you!

[@bearacuda3338]

The air blowout worked for me thx! 🙏

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Glad it helped!

[@peterguzman5490]

Peter great video ,great info . just what i needed, thanks

[@ccarcohen]

Why would a low battery cause a false alarm? Is it beyond the technological capability of the manufacturer to design a device that doesn't generate false alarms when the battery is low?

[@angrylad8561]

It’s doing it’s job it’s meant to chirp to tell you the battery’s low.

[@JonDoles352]

I purchased 5 replacement Kidde Smoke Detectors. Three of them are false alarming. They are brand new. I’ll try you suggested cleaning method.

[@dylanchalmers3011]

@ConcordCarpenter there's two theories on why mine went off. one is i use an old flat screen pc monitor for a tv so it's circuit could be fried and started smoking a bit and it's also become unreliable

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you

[@paulrangel5612]

Best Advice So Far -thanks

[@maxmax0]

It's so strange. Why it always goes off at middle night? LOL

[@luonguyen2005]

The video didn't help me because I have the hard wired type. To remove the detector to clean it as shown in the video means turning off the power, disconnect the wires before the detector can be removed. And of course reconnecting the wires after cleaning ... too much hassle. I just used the vacuum cleaner's extension tubes to reach the detector and vacuum around the circumference of the detectors and the small opening on the face of the detector. However that did not solve the problem. I had a second false alarm the very next day after cleaning. Since humidity could be the trigger I had tried to reduce the humidity in the house by dropping the temperature setting on the air conditioning (humidity dropped from 61% to 56%). So far so good.

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Good tip, the detectors in this video are hardwired too,it’s and easy disconnect and reconnect. Vacuum works as well as bringing the compressed air to the detector

[@Inmate533]

My false alarms go off because of bugs. Every…single…time. Bugs come in the house during the summer and congregate on the ceiling. When all the lights are off at night, they attract to the stupid light on the alarm and eventually trip the sensor inside.

[@amedeoconta]

I think you misspoke at the beginning of the video and said CO2 when you really meant CO(carbon monoxide)

[@ConcordCarpenter]

yes

[@qjarman7753]

Great video thanks from 🇬🇧

[@miguelaguilar5145]

Alarms went off at 6 ish this morning’s so I’m here now 😂

[@showandgo]

Well explained, thanks!

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Glad it was helpful!

[@buzzychaise8450]

Very good TY

[@elainekay8325]

How about when you just purchased a new entire smoke detector and then had it installed. The new replacement is a first alert 10 yr. Battery. Then low and behold one of them started sqeaking about a week later only at night real late at either 1am or 4am. It gives a quick squeek then stops

[@lukasneller3672]

Mine was a much older model, and to get it to stop beeping, I just threw at at a tree super hard. Long story short, it was decimated

[@Jayd4791]

So using the hushed feature over and over will train the smoke alarm that this is just some steam from the oven the n?

[@jamescc2010]

My old hard wired smoker detector keeps going off during shower. Can I just clean it since we have never cleaned or touched it for years?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Replace it if its close to 10 years old

[@vwithers1584]

Is it right outside the bathroom door, on the ceiling!? I think I read steam can affect it & room temperature!? Is it going off really loud or just chirping? I am a lady, but I thought I'd tell you what I think I read on google. I got a hardwired smoke alarm right outside bathroom door that's chirping. The plastic casing won't come off twisting it anticlockwise like it says to. I can't find a groove for a screwdriver, like another video mentioned. Any ideas how I can get the casing off to change the battery? Or just stop the chirping, please?

[@wait-what-really.]

I have been looking on KZbin to see if I can lower the sensitivity level. My roaster oven sets off my 2021 Kiddie alarm. I’m not burning anything

[@thegoodfight365]

Hey there Rob. I know my questions has nothing to do with this video, but I've seen you give the makita 18 volt 10 inch miter saw rave reviews and I'm now in need of one. I'm just about settled on the 18x2 lxt 10 but I now noticed there's 2 versions and I'd love to know what the difference is between the XSLO4PTU and the XSLO6PT ? I'm by no means a pro like the ToolBoxBuzzsaws but the 2 separate model numbers got me thinking there may be a slight difference. Please tell if it's so. Thanks👍🏾

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Im not sure - sometime they're are kitted options, brushless versions or different battery options

[@thegoodfight365]

@@ConcordCarpenter thanks 👍🏾

[@yosva72ale00]

Thanks

[@yvetterenee8256]

How do you turn off the wireless alarm?

[@Yugiboii]

Anyone ran into a scenario where the chirping is coming from the ceiling and not the detector itself? I replaced my detector with a new one hoping it stops the 5 beeps but to no avail. Anyone?

[@linsenbie6615]

Watching this as my alarm went off and latching all the alarms to sound crazy loud on Tuesday 3AM

[@randeepachary3341]

How to save smoke detector from the rusted? Have Any precautions?

[@helenjohnson6385]

Mine are only 5 years old in a new-build house. They are wired into the mains and have back-up batteries. On two occasions they've gone off repeatedly for no reason. I've tried cleaning them and resetting them. They are currently disconnected and taken down with batteries removed and I'm reluctant to put them back up. If cleaning hasn't helped, why are they going off?

[@babybugspaw7085]

So guest bedroom started beeping so I replaced battery & 2 months later my bedroom smoke detector woke myself & wife saying “fire,fire” in middle of night, freaked us out, “no fires though, so I replaced 2 batteries on both & battery was tested and was good, I reset the Kidde Detector and next morning started beeping again, the house is brand new & only 4 years old along with detectors,, why is it still beeping? Any idea? Thank you 😅

[@-biki-]

I'm glaring at my smoke alarm after vacuuming like it's a starting contest. The light isn't flashing every 10 seconds, so far... hopefully good. I'm going to sleep with this next to my bed. With a hammer =_=

[@cat_terrell]

Yeah, steam has been making mine go off, every time, now.

[@zacharychapman3732]

U ar so ❤ful

[@ii-vegas-ii4250]

my smoke alarm is a solid green color and it randomly went off at 5 a.m there is no fire nada now is it my batteries or do i need to call a electrician

[@ConcordCarpenter]

How old the smoke detectors? Are they 10 years old if so replace them When’s the last time you vacuum them out or blue compressed air through them to clean them? Is there a Replaceable batteries, When is the last time you replace them?

[@loadedjavi6419]

I got a county mail for it

[@michaelK.3272]

So it is safe to use compressed air to blow out smoke/carbon monoxide detectors? What if I just want to blow it out by mouth (please, no dirty jokes!)?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

Use a vacuum

[@billmikkelsen412]

Reset before you go to bed !!! If you reset during the day at 1pm 12 hours later you will be ALARMED at 1 AM and again every 2 f&$^&÷ HOURS AFTER !!! btw Thanks for the vid...Mine MUST BE dirty, damn it !

[@saulgoodman2018]

Better to be safe than sorry. Should call 911.

[@zoedoodle9824]

Mine did the usual middle of the night thing. I thought by getting one that said 10 year battery back up meant I wouldn't have to replace a battery for 10 years. It's been 3. It's a 1st Alert 9120B. But the biggest problem is that the battery compartment will not open (says that it is sealed even though I didn't use either of the pins on the back of the mounting when I installed it). According to this video, I can't even clean the thing unless I take out the battery. Any suggestions?

[@ConcordCarpenter]

you can still vacuum or blow air at the sensors

[@paul9570]

Why do these things start beeping in the middle of the f****n night.

[@saritsotangkur2438]

Not CO2 but CO (carbon monoxide)

[@ConcordCarpenter]

correct - thanks for pointing out.

[@Bakanelli]

Mine got of cos I farted a bit of argon (for welding) and fire department came 😡

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

Fun fact most fir departments get 1000's of detectors with grants and give them out for free. all you have to do is ask.

[@susanferrari5166]

Some do, not all. Those some alarms are typically only single station alarms (stand-alone battery), and not hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms. There may be low-income guidelines for these hand-outs based on the grant requirements.

[@madelinepark7944]

MINES GOING OFF EVERY 2 HOURS for 3 DAYS AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

[@zuzu178]

A smoke detector in my apt was chirping very intermittently (once every hour). My landlord sent a tech who replaced the 9V battery. Next day chirping began again once every hour. Landlord send tech out again who replaced the old unit with a brand new one and put in another brand new 9V battery. All was well rest of the day. This morning, it chirped again. Only once. It's been an hour and no new chirping. But what could be the problem?

[@MaryJane-qq9mm]

I have the exact same unit as seen in this video. Ours went off twice starting at 3:45 this am, waking everyone up. This alarm is very sensitive to cooking of any kind. It's a peculiar little device. I don't know what to think of it. It goes off quite often without cause..

[@susanferrari5166]

Make sure it is not your carbon monoxide detector that is chirping. They typically have a lifespan on 10 years. They will chirp if there is a low battery and when they come to the end of their life.

[@sabrinajinmi]

I wonder if it is finally fixed? What is the solution? I have the similar situation in last 3 weeks. I replaced the fire alarm 3 times with brand new ones. But last night it chirped again. Also it was chirping in the morning without any reason. I am so frustrated.:)

[@rayhall7759]

Brilliant! Repeating the same things all other videos say. Best way to stop it is to adjust it with a 16oz ball peen. Buy new one. Repeat and rinse until you get one that works correctly

[@loadedjavi6419]

The county mail me for false alarm and now I need renewal

[@rather12911]

*CO* not CO2

[@zacharychapman3732]

I have the same problem with mine and the same alarm KIDDE

[@Cheechazteca71]

If the batteries are over 2 years old, it is time to change them all in one go.

[@mguerramd]

Spiders and spiderwebs…

[@margotmelvin1578]

Landlord needs to replace all ..detecter in hallway fire alarm .fire departmentfind a fire.

[@leifjenkinson4039]

False alarms? What's that? Ours go off too often to get a false alarm - somebody (who shall remain nameless) - tends to forget the stove or oven is on until too late. Anyone need charcoal for a filter? Good video. But my batteries better hold up until this Covid is over. I'm getting leaky Alkaline batteries destroying numerous things like flashlights. I haven't used Alkaline 9-volt, like this video shows, in my smoke detectors, yet. Anyone?

[@zacharychapman3732]

In NO POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Browniscool]

The fire alarm in my house randomly started going off at like 1am saying "BEEP BEEP BEEP (fire through) "

[@TheBinaryWolf]

I found the introductory "music" offensive. And the info offered is useless, since the internal sensor is needs to be accessed for physical cleaning. A vacuum hose will not remove the film that forms over time in a humid conditions.