Home Maintenance: How To- Change Smoke Detector Battery

Here are quick and easy steps to change a smoke detector correctly. Marty from Liberty Homes, UT will walk you through the steps to stop the chirping noise while keeping your home safe.
Looking for a new home in Utah? Check out www.libertyhomes.com and we can help you out!

[@barbaroni49]

Nine years later and you saved the day, and stopped the constant chirping. As a single single woman, and learning how to be my own handy man, your video was informative and clear on how to replace the battery.

[@Spacemanfilms2002]

9 years …?

[@sophlou2367]

@@Spacemanfilms2002 exactly like did she not think to google it?

[@CharcoalBlasterdog]

@@sophlou2367 think she's talking about how old the video is and that its relevant to her 9 years after posting lol

[@kieraw1621]

😊😊

[@smokealarm5753]

Oh so you're trying to sleep? I think my batteries are dying...

[@pstge]

Me rn

[@Nbafanla03]

Just happened. Fuck urself

[@hofdqs]

Lol.

[@prncessbaby16]

Literally what happened around 230am just now 🙄🙄🥴🥴

[@avahendrick9057]

me rn. probably just gonna beat it with a hammer and take my ass back to bed

[@jakescartoons6045]

A chirp?! A CHIRP?!?? More like an ear-piercing screech! This damn smoke detector woke me up at night!

[@aaronbaraiya3692]

lmao

[@kzoee99]

How can I desactivate mine instead? I wanna break it

[@chrissmith2628]

Turn off the breaker, unscrew smoke dectector from ceiling, disconnect wires, reuse wirenut on ceiling wires, break smoke detector

[@issystar96]

Lolol

[@Maddym365]

I think it’s actually illegal to not have one. For safety reason

[@kennethreese8874]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@nickginopolis7778]

ITS 2AM AND THIS THING WONT SHUT UP

[@EnderStudios1]

I love how it's always 12:30 or 1:00 in the morning when these beep

[@rennzzz8085]

it's scares the shit out of me sometimes.

[@zxchen7783]

It drives me crazy😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵

[@HugDealer]

For real!! haha! 2 in the morning here this past night. Argh! :)

[@weescotties]

mine just went off at 3 in the morning! won't stop beeping. : (

[@susanlsolarz8920]

Mine doesn't just make that ridiculously loud chirp. It then actually yells, "Low battery" at me! So annoying..

[@navybrat8371]

It's 3:30 am and my husband is out of town (who always deals with the smoke detectors!) If not for this video there would be no sleep tonight. Thank you for the very clear and informative video. And thank the good Lord that there was a 9 volt battery in the kitchen drawer. Why is it that smoke detectors only "chirp" in the middle of the night?

[@brandonwilson4281]

🚒🚨👨‍👩‍👧🔥💏🍼⚡🚂

[@prncessbaby16]

I'm going though the same exact thing, except it happened at 2:30am instead of 3:30

[@nodelayfordays8083]

Here I am 4AM it started, 4:30AM I'm watching this. All new batteries for all the smoke detectors and it won't stop. Please send help.

[@maretafoya3604]

I didn't even know mine needed a new battery (moved into rental house months earlier) until it caused all my alarms to go off in the dead of night. My youngest just kid slept through all the ear terror too. Lol

[@Robert08010]

Because you're elsewhere during the day perhaps...

[@mannyzuccarelli]

"Remove the battery, and then replace the battery" This man is solid.

[@daisyhernandez6279]

Bro 😂

[@hinataistheawesomest]

As a single woman living on her own for the first time, you have no idea how helpful this was!! Thank you so much!! Now, unless the Universe has something else unpleasant to throw my way tonight, I believe I'll be heading to bed now. XD

[@davidjohnson7846]

Dear Beth, Do you know if all brands of smoke detectors give battery access the same way (turning the unit counter-clockwise)?

[@patsmith3009]

3:30 am single 63 old, in bed with the flu, it's been chirping for over 6 months in my bedroom waiting on maintenance. We buy the battery they replace them. I'm a shorty with no ladder. I had it! assessed my situation stood on my bed followed your instructions. BAM! Many blessings for you

[@ashleyanderson7912]

Not sure why this video has so many dislikes. He got right to the point. I had 2 smoke detectors going off with loud incessant beeping. I went out and got some 9 volt batteries and installed them (finally the correct way lol). Now no more beeping and good sound sleeping. Thank you!!!

[@amyjean4633]

He didn't say you NEED to unscrew it from the base, and he didn't help understand which way the battery goes. I can't see the positive and negative indentations in mine, and I tried putting the battery in every which way the cows come home but the door still would not close. It got dislikes because more specific instructions are needed.

[@GodzillaCO]

Please send this to all your African-American friends, they desperately need it.

[@ItsTwistel]

9 years later and marty still saving lives .. you da man

[@anitachrisley4292]

You saved me! The smoke detector in my apartment bedroom started chirping at 3:30am on Memorial Day. I had to put it in a cupboard in the kitchen (ours has no wires) so we could get back to sleep. I ended up finding your video and found the battery hiding behind the lever just like you said. Thank God I had 1 new 9V on hand. Thanks!!

[@chrisl7769]

And folks, note that you can temporarily stop the chirps by quickly pressing the reset button on the front of the unit. That will stop the chirping for a few days, then you can replace the battery during "normal" hours. ;-).

[@katien3022]

Praise the lord I was looking for a comment like this!

[@kennythompson9682]

You are a lifesaver 👍

[@vwithers1584]

I have a very cheap smoke alarm with only one button & I tried that hush, but it didn't work! I am in need of some advices & help please. Any idea why it didn't work (I held my finger on it for 20seconds aswell)

[@vwithers1584]

Can you help please? I don't know if I need to switch off a switch on the fusebox. I don't have a switch labelled smoke detector on there. I have ones labelled: lighting, lighting, sockets, sockets, shower, cooker. On the left of those is 2joined together red switches/switch saying main switch. It's a very cheap, 15 year old, basic smoke alarm. How do you know if you have to flick a switch on the fusebox, please!? I have pressed the hush button for 20 seconds but it's not resolved the chirping. Would I electrocute myself by not pressing a switch on fusebox off, then twisting plastic cover off to see which battery I need to order, please!? Is it likely to be a 9volt? To stop it chirping temporarily, can I turn the plastic cover anticlockwise, safely without flicking a switch off on the fusebox!? (I think circuitboard is same as fusebox, isn't it)!?

[@donnab.42]

Thank you, Marty for saving many people from instant insanity. You quickly got to the point, unlike many on Utube.

[@fairlyangela13]

thanks for making this video 10 years ago, you a real one.

[@donvito2485]

OMG! Thank you so much for this clip. At about midnight, all the detectors were going off one after another. Eventually, I found this clip, and it saved the day 🙏🙏🙏

[@stellatheheydudes8049]

If it was that easy I wouldn’t need this video. Getting the battery in is the problem. You got a dumb it down for us ladies

[@Chloe-yr13]

it started beeping at like 6 this morning and i thought i pressed the button on the side… well that made all the smoke detectors go off and my mom woke up and said she didn’t know how to do it either so thank god for your video or nobody would get sleep 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@jayne1832]

Thank you!! My smoke alarm started chirping at 3 AM and scared my dog..I’ve never changed one before but I got it done thanks to this video! 🙌

[@LibertyHomesSandy]

We love to hear that ... glad we could help you! :)

[@LWGanucheau]

Not all heroes wear capes. Thank you, Marty from Liberty Homes.

[@militiaguy]

Thank you for this. It is 7:00 AM on my first Sunday off in 5 weeks and this SOB is chirping.

[@Sig_1998]

MARTY YOU'RE AN ANGEL. I was rudely awoken by my Smoke Detector going off like crazy thinking my house was on fire. After a visit from the Fire Department after calling the non-emergency number they let me know I just needed to install a new battery for some reason it never chirped and instead went straight to going off as if smoke was detected. I am only in my 20's and split rent with my Dad he's always handled that sort of thing though as he's currently on vacation I was lost. THIS VIDEO though taught me all I needed to know even though it was a slightly different model I got the general idea! THANK YOU MARTY!

[@chellemarcato]

I am so very thankful for this video. I was frustraded for 45 mins trying to figure out just how to take the battery out. So that little lever on the side was the key to taking out the battery. PHEW!!

[@pefernanda28]

Who needs a man when you got Marty, I got this.

[@maryoconnor2596]

Thanks so much, it's midnight here in Ireland, mine started chirping earlier today.. By watching your video I was able to do it myself , delighted lol

[@LibertyHomesSandy]

That's great ... glad we could help you!

[@kathleenanderson5116]

Single lady able to do myself with your easy to understand instructions. Thank you.

[@KaseyC.]

Just an fyi: some smoke detectors have a little block preventing the battery from being taken out. You can reach around the top and unplug the wires, where you can then easily hold the block out of the way

[@Yaeza31]

a 13 year old video still helping out in the day of July 12th, 2024

[@homehere9817]

Thanks! I’m a first time home owner and single mom! Simple fix!

[@dealstogo2649]

Those batteries sometimes are super difficult to "snap back in." I wish they made an easier device.

[@sunshinegirl1967]

Deals togo I know. I just unplugged mine. Couldn't get the damn battery in without almost breaking the door. Anyway, unplugging it made all the difference. Problem solved! No more chirping.

[@Lyviatin]

+sunshinegirl1967 rip

[@sunshinegirl1967]

Rissa Rose lol, no need. I figured out how to get the battery in there.

[@cnd1982]

lol damn...

[@mwj9080]

I know right!!! Smh

[@kawaiisenpaii612]

All this time I thought it was my home system beeping xD turns out it was the smoke detector waking me up at 3am THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!!

[@iceprincess477]

Thank you. I had no idea how to fix this.

[@kathrynbrown3452]

Thank you so much for this video. I am a person that is living on my own for the first time and this video was so easy to understand thank you!

[@LibertyHomesSandy]

You are welcome ... glad this could help you out!

[@vwithers1584]

Can you help please? I don't know if I need to switch off a switch on the fusebox. I don't have a switch labelled smoke detector on there. I have ones labelled: lighting, lighting, sockets, sockets, shower, cooker. On the left of those is 2joined together red switches/switch saying main switch. It's a very cheap, 15 year old, basic smoke alarm. How do you know if you have to flick a switch on the fusebox, please!? I have pressed the hush button for 20 seconds but it's not resolved the chirping. Would I electrocute myself by not pressing a switch on fusebox off, then twisting plastic cover off to see which battery I need to order, please!? Is it likely to be a 9volt? To stop it chirping temporarily, can I turn the plastic cover anticlockwise, safely without flicking a switch off on the fusebox!? (I think circuitboard is same as fusebox, isn't it)!?

[@delusionaljesus1419]

I recommend this video to all my teammates on Call of Duty. No one wants to hear the fuckin beeping. Thanks for the vid this thing is driving me insane

[@a.williams3037]

I missed out on some sleep this morning, now I need to find some batteries.

[@guitarchim]

Those chirps are so effin annoying! At my old house they weren't so loud but at this new house I'm at it actually hurts my ears! And it's like 4 of them going off right next to each other lol

[@brandonwilson4281]

👏👏💰🔫💵💸📲🔥🔫🔥

[@brandonwilson4281]

Kqqiiwiw

[@pattib2847]

I have watched this several times and cannot remove the battery. Is there a trick, I hate to pull it too hard, but I watch how you take it out so easily, it's keeping me up at night.

[@ItzyEcho]

IT IS 2 IN THE MORNING, AND I HAVE HAD A LONG DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS QUICK AND EASY TUTORIAL. XD

[@judithadair2363]

Thanks for the info. I just installed my new battery. That's a sharp beep!

[@iprobablyforgotsomething]

You, sir, have rescued yet another citizen held hostage by an eardrum-shattering bleeping battery alert in the wee hours. I'm willing to bet you save a lot of folks between the hours of midnight and 4am (because it's always after midnight when that stupid chirping starts).

[@Robert08010]

As a call center guy, I speak to people all across the country every day. I am continually shocked by the percentage of households who's smoke detectors are chirping. Its at least 10%, possibly closer to 15%. Its time for another serious fire safety champagne!!!!!!!!!

[@cato3277]

10 to 15% huh....

[@ilive4retro]

Every KZbinr should watch this video

[@CodenameTurtle]

Thanks, you saved me and my terrified cats. I live in a condo, the building has two detectors and my HOA wouldn't answer last month when one went off too high up in the stairway ceiling. So a neighbor had to borrow a long ladder after 5 days of no help - now the second one is going off since yesterday, but it's close enough for me to reach with my tiny ladder and I wasn't sure how. Thank you, gonna catch up on some lack of sleep ;~;

[@TG-Maverick22]

Thank you for your informational video. I followed your instructions and it worked for me. 5/5 thumbs up!

[@boardingurban]

Thank You! At Last my ears shall be at peace. I also didn't bother putting the battery back.

[@thomaskim1137]

Just woke up at 5 am. Watched your video and went to 711 to get batteries. And going back to sleep. Thank you sir

[@unused_night6778]

This guy's a life saver.

[@bballnotproyet306]

Thank you for the easy and informative video

[@cedarwho7]

The back of mine said I could be electrocuted if I didn't turn off the breaker and then change the battery. Thank you for this video! It's after midnight and I'm going to bed.

[@vwithers1584]

Omg was it chirping & were you scared to try & fix it!?

[@vwithers1584]

Is yours a very cheap, basic, old, one a landlord put on ceiling, I think electrically wired in!?

[@monat9248]

Nice video on how to change smoke detector battery

[@julius5128]

While replacing mine smoke detector it decided to chirp and ear raped me to the max

[@SY-no7di]

Lol

[@MariePriss]

Same !!!!!

[@TridKP]

You touched its special area.

[@greyusa5709]

Thanks for posting this video, it helped me fix the headache giving chirping.

[@khaotikrypt]

i watched this while hiding in the mud room in my house (home alone) while a smoke detector upstairs chirps and im frickin scared but eventually i did it :D

[@rlprimus06]

For my smoke alert alarm system, + symbol is on the right, - symbol is on the left.

[@LillyCatNA]

Bro you saved my ears and my life. Thank you.

[@kimberlyj2724]

Thank you so much for providing this video!!!

[@Tfolife528]

Wow! Thanks a million!

[@sweetsue1963]

Thank you that damn thing has been driving me mad for weeks

[@woofinu]

I don't think you needed to unscrew the alarm to change the battery in this model. Just open the side battery door while leaving the alarm in its place.

[@prislouise573]

It's been almost 5 years every time we changed the battery. We still heard pib pib and I got tired of it. What I can do to stop this? We changed the smoke detectors as well still the same Pib Pib all the time. Thank you for your answer

[@LibertyHomesSandy]

Without inspecting the smoke detector, it's hard to diagnose this, but here are a few suggestions. If your smoke detector is hardwired with a battery back-up, contact an electrician to look at the wiring and make sure there is nothing wrong with the wiring. You can also double check and make sure there is nothing stopping the battery from making complete contact with the terminals (for example the pull tab still being in the alarm or any other obstruction). Verify the battery door is completely and firmly closed. You can also try resetting the smoke detector by holding the test/reset button for 15-20 seconds to see if that clears whatever error is occurring.

[@dandlerandall]

I want to make an observation about the type of people who never will ever change their smoke detector batteries but I don’t want to get banned

[@JesusGarcia-en3pj]

I know exactly what you are alluding to my friend and I also came here looking for the same comment

[@MegaDede43]

omg!!!! thank you so so so much. last night i almost went c r a z y !!!! my damn fire alarm beeped for 7 frickin' hours and i even had this beeping in one of my dreams. I was so close to taking a baseball bat to it. thank you for this simple, but effective vid. God i love people who post.

[@elbozo5723]

Fun fact: no black people have ever clicked on this video

[@gunnihunter]

Just did mines today and it worked! Thank you sir. 🙏🏽

[@bullmoosevx]

Some people will have to go through the arduous journey of finding out their fire alarms are hard wired, connected to other units, replacing those units, and resetting the circuit breaker. :D

[@DamianRavenCrescentSkull]

thank you i couldnt figure out how to fix it and the noise was affecting my sleep and making me tiny jump everytime it would chirp

[@TravelwithSnowGirl]

Thanks so much appreciated your instructions 😊

[@MrsItsr8l]

Awesome, thanks for this video!

[@therealmissglamBAM]

Perfect and simple, thank you!

[@Yezpahr]

For mine there was a little clip on the side that activated the battery. I couldn't just twist and pull, turns out it's a non-replaceable battery.

[@yessievillanueva1766]

I don’t need to shut off electrical power first before installing the new battery? I’m confused because I’ve see other videos that say to shut off, but I just want to replace the battery.

[@vwithers1584]

That's what I've been asking him but no reply

[@vwithers1584]

Is yours hardwired to your ceiling? Did you flick a switch on the fusebox/circuitboard first, before doing anything?

[@yessievillanueva1766]

@@vwithers1584 yes I had to turn off the circuit breaker. It is hardwired to the ceiling.

[@vwithers1584]

@@yessievillanueva1766 Thankyou. I don't have smoke alarms labelled on mine, do you!? I heard or read somewhere that they're often joined to the lighting, so I think I should flick the lighting switch off on fusebox/circuitboard, do you think?

[@JM-nh8yp]

What are the spring loaded "flipper" levers that are under the battery in smoke detectors???

[@JS-hs1on]

Why after changing a new battery or without any battery replaced, the smoke alarm is still making noice?

[@vicious-pi3rd]

JS You gotta reset it the button in front.It should stop!

[@sankaramanikulathu6384]

How + ve and - ve of the battery is be identified and fitted properly inside smoke deductor

[@edward-jacobholt8795]

Thank you KZbin dad

[@Pandapaperclipp]

Thank you!!

[@mufasaheu]

Any tips for when the battery entry is jammed? I might’ve inserted mine incorrectly and now the battery latch won’t open.

[@LittleLulubee]

I don't have a Liberty home, but I have a wired smoke detector with battery backup. It's making 3 beeps, then pause, then 3 beeps, then pause, over and over. Then it stops for about 5 or 10 minutes, then starts up again. I'm going to try changing the 9 volt batteries. DO I NEED TO TURN OFF THE POWER BEFORE CHANGING BATTERY??

[@LibertyHomesSandy]

Changing the battery is a great place to start with the issue you have described. Sometimes when the battery starts getting low, but isn't quite spent, it will beep on and off. On your question, we have never had an issue with leaving the power on when changing the battery -- the battery chamber is separate/away from the electrical cables -- but if you feel more comfortable turning it off first, you can do so.

[@LittleLulubee]

@@LibertyHomesSandy Great! Good to know for future reference. I ended up turning off the power to that room, because I wasn't sure. And once the new battery was in, the problem stopped. Thanks! 👍

[@vwithers1584]

​@@LittleLulubeeOn your fusebox/circuitboard, did you have a switch labelled separately for smoke alarms, please!? I don't have one labelled smoke alarms so I'm wondering what to press, you see.

[@vwithers1584]

Can you help please? I don't know if I need to switch off a switch on the fusebox. I don't have a switch labelled smoke detector on there. I have ones labelled: lighting, lighting, sockets, sockets, shower, cooker. On the left of those is 2joined together red switches/switch saying main switch. It's a very cheap, 15 year old, basic smoke alarm. How do you know if you have to flick a switch on the fusebox, please!? I have pressed the hush button for 20 seconds but it's not resolved the chirping. Would I electrocute myself by not pressing a switch on fusebox off, then twisting plastic cover off to see which battery I need please? I have a 9v here. To stop it chirping temporarily, can I turn the plastic cover anticlockwise, safely without flicking a switch off on the fusebox!? (I think circuitboard is same as fusebox, isn't it)!?

[@LittleLulubee]

@@vwithers1584 No, I don’t have a switch for smoke alarms. I turned off the power to that room. But whatever you do is YOUR CHOICE. Safest bet is call the electrician.

[@amyjean4633]

Mine has chirped for 2 months; I have opened the door and changed the batteries five times but it still chirped. It needs to be unscrewed from the base to reset! ✔️

[@syedikramulla3693]

Do we have to power off main electric switch before replacing the battery?

[@jeannuaman7955]

Thank you this helps a lot

[@epgaqua3691]

Thank you we have a baby girl and she can’t sleep since

[@ahmedgurie2295]

Thanks, but you forgot to tell that this is AC wired smoke detector so before operating it or changing the battery you must turn off the power

[@Ilovehotanimemen]

I did it but its still kinda annoying when it goes off without battery which I didn't know before still thank you for the tutorial !

[@carmellebanks9525]

Thank you for this video!

[@jessicasummers8177]

Thank you

[@mrslady9137]

paying attention which side is positive and negative? ok do we match them or is it opposite

[@abidfarooki8599]

Thanks for helping

[@nonasenpai]

I would like to know why it needs to be so loud. Like hot damn.

[@fweego3351]

Very helpful

[@Leomunozguedes]

really helpful!

[@cassie2035]

Thankyou so much!

[@rockboot]

Thanks OG Marty

[@sswwaaggyyzadar]

Black people take notes now

[@susanlsolarz8920]

I don't have that convenient battery compartment that swings out. I have to open a flat plastic "door" or flap on the ceiling side of the detector. I pry it open with a tweezers from the outer perimeter and the flap hinges near the center of the detector. The (bizarre) problem is that, at the hinge, there is a circular piece of plastic that prevents the door from lifting open! Therefore, it is impossible to get to the compartment to remove or to insert a battery. Mine is chirping right now and it feels like I am going to break off the back door/flap piece if I open it far enough to actually remove the dead battery! Any suggestions are appreciated.

[@LibertyHomesSandy]

It’s difficult not being able to see the actual type of smoke detector you are dealing with. Is it possible to twist the whole smoke and remove it from the ceiling mount then unplug the wire behind it if it has one and take it down to hopefully work with changing the battery easier?

[@LibertyHomesSandy]

Each company's compartments and units vary slightly. We suggest going on to whatever brand smoke detector's website, as they should also have some videos or "how to's" specific to their product. Wish we could be of more help!

[@sunshinegirl1967]

I changed the battery but it keeps chirping. Also, it's hard to tell how it's supposed to go in.

[@albender1]

A lot of single women in comments... The guy can start a dating site with videos like this 😂

[@yo_yoplayer3321]

Thanks for the help, appreciate it

[@nuttersandy]

Also, everyone should make sure that you orient the correct +/- terminals of the battery, or the chirping will persist. Initially, I replaced the battery and noticed the chirps were still going on. Make sure it is the correct orientation. After I flipped the battery and installed it the other way, the chirp has finally gone away. I'm a university student, and currently studying for my exam tomorrow (it's 10PM right now) and this alarm has been driving me bloody insane for the past 1.5 hours... Not the best of times to have this problem start...

[@shawnouko2997]

Sandeep M Thank you so much..

[@hinataistheawesomest]

I'm a college student too and living on my own, so I can most definitely relate to this situation. XD