New Battery & Smoke Detector Keeps Chirping How To Fix

Venmo Tip Jar @AndrewDIY
There's a few steps you can take if your detector is still chirping even after a new battery.
Replacement Detector Alarm: amzn.to/2fUrlA8
1st, remove the battery.
2nd hold the test button down for 30 seconds.
if that doesn't do it open it up and clean the sensor surface with a qtip and a little rubbing alcohol.
If that doesn't work you may want to replace it entirely.
Good luck!

[@brandonv772]

Is anyone else watching this video at 2am while trying to find those 9volt batteries you bought at home depot 6 months ago?

[@garlandsgymnastics3934]

Not me. It's 2:00am but I got my 9volt batteries at Albertson 30 minutes ago.....still flipping chirping!

[@mkeeley7219]

Yep, and to add, having 3 dogs going spastic, howling, barking, :>(

[@eazy1174]

11:30 at night here, considering taking this thing outside and giving it a go with the lawnmower

[@walshbrown03]

Yup...at 1654am with no batteries in sight👀🙀😾

[@rhub78]

😂😩🙋‍♂️

[@pixelpadre]

I just want to know why these faill only during the middle of the night.

[@khalidien35]

Me too I'd like to know. Brand new one and the 2nd time between 02:00 and 03:00am French time.

[@404HandleNotFound]

Me too! It must be Murphy's law or something.

[@spectabitopticsnowaunitofm4755]

Because that's when it gets colder and the battery can't keep up the voltage. When the batteries are marginal, lowering the temperature pushes them over the edge.

[@uniquelycommon2244]

Yep. Cranking up the air conditioning during the day will get you the same effect.

[@katezeck2784]

Maneki Neko or it just hates you. 😂

[@happykt]

I woke up at 5 AM this morning to very loud chirping coming from two of my three smoke alarms. I blearily drove to the grocery store and bought three new batteries but two of the smoke alarms kept chirping. In desperation I went to youtube and stumbled upon your video and followed your instructions to a "T". I didn't even have to turn off my circuit breakers and now all three of my smoke alarms have stopped chirping. BLESS YOU ANDREW! (its now 7:42 AM and I can get back to bed.)

[@thomasgraham742]

Thank you very much kind sir It is 4 am and I had been trying to deal with this shit for an hour and I can now experience the joy of silence

[@caseyjones6115]

After watching several videos I think you're the only one that actually knew what you were doing! No one else told how to reset either so thanks much!

[@ashleykidd5417]

You did it! This really helped at 5:00am in the morning when two of mine went off. I had to look at another video to see how to REMOVE the smoke alarm from those wires, though. Luckily, that was easy to find, too. So comforting at 5:00am to hear a calm explanation of what you can do to fix your chirping smoke alarm when changing the battery didn't work!

[@BayareaJay]

Wish I knew about this BEFORE I took out the hammer.....:(

[@paul-ld9vh]

Lol!!! That's funny!

[@GhostBoyGhoul]

As I'm sitting beneath mine with my phone watching this video and a hammer in my lap

[@camilledavis33]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ColdBloodedCare]

Lol I legit just ripped it out of the ceiling, guess I gotta reinstall it now

[@noahgraber9339]

you saved my life Edit: never mind it's still beeping. Pro-tip: if it's still chirping completely disconnected it from power and deal with it tomorrow.

[@JesusFan]

This was the most helpful video I found by far for our issue. We replaced our battery yet the beeping continued the next day...? The answer was detach from ceiling, take out battery, replace battery, reconnect to ceiling, then test alarm with 1 quick press of button. After the press of the button the alarm cycled thru what looking to be a red light "test" with no sound, and after about 10 minutes peace was once again established in our humble abode... Hope this helps someone and once again thanks for the video, huge lifesaver! :D - Keep looking up!

[@kerbie333]

This helped SO MUCH.

[@perspectivism2006]

Omg thank you!! Woke up at 5:30 am because I kept hearing this sound. It's so loud! I thought I was hearing a scared cricket or something!! Even googled "I think there's a cricket in my room" lol.

[@dmm9503]

Jaimesha Davis LOL I thought the same thing and I'm so afraid of crickets. I was preparing for a fight.

[@ViEtKiDD617]

It’s 5:22am and usually I can ignore but it tonight I feel like every 5 mins it Chirps

[@BecilBeatts]

Thank you for making this video, you solved my problem exactly. I would love to buy you a beer. I would have been changing batteries and beating my head against the wall for hours, and still probably not figured it out on my own, if it weren't for the Internet. Thank you.

[@jenniashley887]

Thank you so much for having this out on the internet! It has saved my life and my puppy's life from anxiety! I got it fixed!

[@ambernic177]

Yes! As I’m waking up at 1am to the beep every minute. My poor dog is freaking out and shaking so bad. I’m working on fixing it cause I feel so bad for her.

[@blamevy]

this was such a great and informative video and explained everything i needed to know especially at 4AM! Thank you!

[@laura7271]

Best how to video out of thousands, worked at first try, thank you!!

[@karenaudreytodd]

I suggest using a hammer, I have never had one beep again after hitting it with a framing hammer. Never fails to solve the problem. Alternatively you can twist it to unlock it from the base, yank hard to disengage the wiring and throw it as hard as you can out the nearest window. This is the method I use when they malfunction when I am sleeping, I always go back to bed feeling content and peaceful and fall right back to sleep. A friend of mine has a method he calls "Ironic Justice", where he simply throws it into the wood stove. As the plastic burns it makes a lot of smoke, but it all goes up the chimney...

[@rebeccap4556]

Thank you, Andrew! YOU are a life saver! I thank you, my children thank you and my dog thanks you!

[@melissacrowfootkeane]

THANK YOU! I was on a step ladder reaching all the way over my head to replace the battery. Couldn't SEE which way the battery was supposed to go in --- you showed me! Thanks! NO MORE CHIRP!

[@seanpc798]

The fact that this video has more views than Charlie Bit Me shows this is a challenge world wide. I had to hold mine down for 40 seconds.

[@lisas44]

THANK YOU! The holding down the test button worked like a charm.

[@jfluter]

This really helped tonight! My smoke alarm went off when my kitchen got somewhat smokey when I was cooking tonight (all was fine, nothing burned or anything,) and I live in a small apartment complex. I ended up having to put the battery back in, and hope it was still good to use...got lucky there, but am getting a new battery soon anyways, just to have some on hand. It's been a good 10-15 minutes since I heard the beep, so I should be in the clear. I was serioulsy annoyed with the beeping, especially with it being late and others probably trying to sleep or wind down for the night. Thanks again!

[@lily7311]

Thank you. I just installed this alarm and was having the same problem. Followed the instructions on this video and it's fixed!

[@CyberPaulie]

Thank you. By far the best video for this alarm. I got two of these at Cosco for $59.00. Cheers!

[@jnelson5069]

Thank you thank you thank you! My fresh out of the box unit with fresh factory batteries was doing this, and your recommendation solved it. Why the accompanying manual doesn't provide this information is beyond comprehension.

[@tmweddle9567]

Your video was very helpful. My smoke-co detector was doing the three chirps. None of the other smoke only detectors wee sounding. I do believe the three chirps were the result of dust or dirt, even though the wording on the detector says to replace. This has happened once before and cleaning solved the problem. Thank you!

[@MoonStar-eo8lv]

After changing the batteries in my smoke detector I couldn't figure out why it still chirped. After watching your video, I solved the problem. Thanks so much!

[@donkey3370]

the only tutorial that WORKED. WOW. THANK YOU.

[@thomasbadillo98]

Thanks your video helped out a lot 4am chirping can make u go insane

[@user-sc5bz1kg2i]

this man has saved me from the chirp every other year

[@elizabethm2373]

I had given up hope, but this worked! Finally can go back to sleep!

[@marcosmartello2319]

You just saved my life. I didn't take out the battery, I just pressed the button.

[@tennbuick]

bro, you're a LIFESAVER 🙏🏽

[@JosephSmith72]

Thank you my good man!!!!!! Holy cow that reset thing you did worked for me....no more wondering WTF to do!!!

[@nneka824]

My poor husband unsuccessfully tried to solve this and made himself 15 minutes late to work this morning. The chirping persisted all day today, making my day extra eventful. This evening when he continued his "problem solving," I suggested we Google it and here we are! Problem solved! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this video!

[@JaslenePizzaKween]

Thank you. It turns out I had the battery in backwards. I appreciate your brevity and guidance.

[@geoffreybathe1589]

Brilliant, thank you. This video saved me from buying a new smoke alarm when I didn't need to.

[@kayp626]

Thank you SO MUCH. Why can't the First Alert site make it this easy???

[@tommoose4833]

Great video. Quick and to the point!

[@merrieamanda]

Thanks for your help. This did the trick. Now we can rest and my dog isn’t frightened by high pitch chirp. 😁

[@savagecoach]

Ha ha ha! I have had my stupid alarm sitting in a closet for at least 2 years! Now I can fix it and get it installed again. Thanks so much!

[@d-mo4446]

Solved my problem! Thank you so much!

[@OML2020]

My dogs thank you from the bottom of their anxious hearts!

[@dizhang2250]

Thanks. Finally I have fixed this problem, and it had bothered me for several weeks. Forget about first alert.

[@mclarkallen]

Thank you so much. I am so lucky that I found this video. Kidde has purchased Firex and I can't find my users manual. None of the other users manuals EVEN MENTION a capacitor that holds the damn chirp! I pulled mine down, removed the battery and held the button down for 60 seconds.... returned everything and the CHIRP is gone. Thanks

[@wangzhang2686]

Hi Andrew, I just want to say, Thank You So Much!

[@marcalix]

Finally I found one similar to my smoke detector after days of searching for that in youtube. I've been trying to uninstall it from the ceiling but couldn't detach from the wiring but after seeing the back part of it in your video I figured it out how to do it. That smoke detector had been driving everyone crazy in the building. It was not chirping but beeping so loud repeatedly all day and all night. Battery is good though.

[@thebathwater]

Thanks. That was driving me crazy. You solved it.

[@dygitalduchess]

Thank You Andrew...I can totally sleep now thanks to you!

[@gregoryjgg1]

Andrew, thanks so much. I watched your video and did what you said but when I put in the battery (before hooking up to hardwire), pushing the test button did nothing (no sound). So I shoved some tightly folded paper in behind the end of the battery to shove it forward as I assumed it must not be making contact. Problem solved. Testing worked. And I rewired it back in to the ceiling. No more chirping!! Thanks again.

[@johnryker5269]

Worked just as described, thank you!

[@terrywilkens5984]

This video was a "life-saver" for me! My husband is gone for two days and it just so happens that is when one of our smoke detectors failed. I knew that it needed a battery and changed it successfully PRIOR to looking at this clip. But, for a month or two--we'd noticed one of our other smoke detectors (in our bedroom) was giving a couple of early morning chirps that we blamed on cold weather and battery probably low. So, when the other smoke detector needed a new battery for sure I decided to put batteries in all of the smoke detectors while I had the ladder in the house. I knew that the other batteries were likely low due to installation at the same time. A moth fell out of the smoke detector in our bedroom and I assume that was responsible for the early morning light chirps we'd been having. My BIG PROBLEM occurred after I put a new battery in my bedroom! It started giving off the continuous low battery chirp. I still had the detector connected to the electric and I tried another battery. Then the whole house system alarmed and honestly--I don't remember how I got it to stop. I found this clip on KZbin, disconnected alarm from the electric, removed the new battery and pressed the button to do a 30 second reset. Battery back in and all fixed! Plugged it back into the wall and everything is working fine. NO CHIRPS or ALARMS and hubby will be happy when he gets home and doesn't have to change the batteries! Bless you for posting this!

[@scottdouthitt9225]

Thanks for the video. I actually bought a new smoke detector, cleared the unit for 15 secs plus then added the battery then hit the test it didn't do the three quick beeps that would make it sound as though it was ready. Didn't happen. Any thoughts? Would I need to change out all the smoke detectors in the home? Thanks.

[@loumitch1]

Today I had tested all the detectors in my house my using the test button. . All worked. But shortly thereafter, one of them started making a ticking noise. I checked the battery and it was ok. Pressing the button either made it tick more or nothing happened at all. A few minutes ago, I performed the procedure in the video. Now the unit works as it should. Thank you Andrew.

[@tinker5491]

Thank you! I am a 62 yr old female caring for my 87 yr old mother recovering from a major stroke & living in a house with 9 & 10 ft ceiling; so alarming detectors are not needed. It wasn't batteries so now I hope these added steps (which I have now done on all 5 detectors) will provide uninterrupted sleep tonight. Thanks again!

[@kelliwaldo3463]

Thank you! Resetting it did the trick.

[@LATEXXJUGGERNUT]

You are a life saver, I was getting so pissed off!!!!

[@nancymanchester2531]

Thank you! Worked like a charm!

[@anthonymyers1878]

Yes, this worked! Thank you sir.

[@trilliputdolgopa]

It worked. Thank you so much. You just saved me $70

[@avarootube4657]

Thank you so much! Was going crazy!

[@adeline.is.sleepy]

thank you for making this! the instructions _and_ the explanation of why each step matters is super helpful :)

[@lisamcdaniel4771]

Thank you for saving our sanity!!!

[@teesims3718]

Thank you for this helpful advice. I changed all batteries, reset all smoke detectors, and they still went off and chirp'd. I called my fire dept out and they said well we could unplug them but prefer not too. Then I tried what you said and TADA it worked no more chirping. Now I can get at least 2 hours of sleep before I go to work 12 long hours pfftt electronics. :O)

[@loripohlman]

THANK YOU!!! And yes, the only fail during the middle of the night and/or when you are the only one home to drag out the ladder and realize you have no 9v batteries!

[@water2wine1]

Thank you. So I am correct in thinking I only need to change the battery in one to reset all 5 of my wired detectors? Because 3 are way out of reach.

[@flowolfesharp5470]

I'm gonna try this. Three of my eight alarms have been going off in a series for a week now. New batteries haven't helped. This is worth a shot.

[@ladude4484]

Thanks much appreciated that was so helpful

[@davidhardy3460]

Man thanks for the video it was driving me crazy

[@dmm9503]

thank you for this video. This stupid thing was beeping and woke up my 3 week old daughter. I couldn't figure out how to take out the batteries. Again, thank you!

[@clairechen7398]

it really helps me a lot thanks!

[@davidvilan5728]

smoke detector started chirping 3 days ago and i'm going out of my fucking mind. i changed the battery and it will not stop. i'm going t try some of these methods or my last hope is a god damn hammer either to it or to me. someone's going to lose. wish me luck

[@NebrasLk]

Lol mine was beeping for about six years and i couldn't find out what is going on i get used to it but now after this video i will try to fix it , it taught me how to control myself LOL

[@foxboy1]

Sould come with a snooze button!

[@10PADCGAIAMA]

It works! Thanks Andrew:)

[@iglyduckling]

thanks for the tips, however, my smoke detector now triple chirps after new battery was installed, I looked at the manual, it didn't say anything about 3 beeps, the LED light is green, not sure what's going on?

[@YashaD]

I was about to go crazy. Thank you

[@minnesotasmooth]

If they are wired in why do we have to change the battery still !? and who made it so hard to do a simple thing such as changing a battery ?

[@traceymcw-g8738]

Minnesotasmooth smoothie The battery serves as a back-up in case power goes out.

[@Stackz19]

You are the true MVP!!

[@yashmistry1918]

Thanks man! Worked for me!!!

[@HeadNose]

After I flip the battery do I have to press the button to make it beep? I live in an apartment and don't want to disrupt neighbors with the loud beeping

[@nicolejeanleonard-shiu2955]

This solve my problem right away!! Thank you so much, this beeping was driving me crazy and I just changed the battery and didn't know what else to do!

[@chp21600]

OMG thank you soooooo much for this video!!

[@Gr8rsh]

THANK YOU ANDREW HILL

[@gulparixirali8118]

Thank you so much it is very helpful

[@yes350yes]

After 15 years my BRK detectors would not let me sleep no amount of new battery changed anything so I ordered new ones, same brand. Guess I got the max out of these. With the new ones I did have to change the bases which was easy but I have 5 of them hardwired in my home. Also I notice you can tell which one is activated as the red light will flash real fast and you can silence it by pushing the test button , nice feature on the new ones. My old ones were getting to where it didnt take much kitchen smoke to set them off. Luckily the new ones I ordered were on sale $10.

[@cambelden]

Very helpful~thanks!

[@rontrellboone5139]

Good video Andrew

[@nadiiah8805]

Thank you so much!

[@ssutton02]

5:30AM.......Thank you!!!!

[@lrichardson2360]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! I could not figure out why they wouldn’t stop chirping, I pulled the battery and held the button and that fixed it. Sanity restored!!

[@nicolefoley892]

How long did you hold the button for? When I plug it back in after removing the battery and holding the restart button for 30 seconds it still continues to chirp. 😩

[@lrichardson2360]

@@nicolefoley892 I held it for 30 seconds. There was one that still continued to chirp so after I installed it again I hit the test button and that fixed it.

[@fayewren5865]

HELP!! I just brought a 2002 home and Sunday my smoke alarm start to beeping and it still is on and off. I call myself taking a look at it because I brought some 9v battery but I didn't see where the battery should go, but I did see wires that were there. And I don't know anything about how to do this because I am so use to having the maintenance guys to do it when I was living in apartment. could you please tell me if the FIRE DEPARTMENT would come out to help me with this? PLEASE RESPOND it would be appreciated.

[@johnfrench8794]

Thanks for the good info

[@Milosz_Ostrow]

-I recently had a problem with an AC--powered ("hard-wired") First Alert SC9120B combo smoke and carbon monoxide alarm emitting a triple-chirp about once a minute. The unit, identical to the one in this video except for the branding, was manufactured in 2012, so it is only about six years old and I would expect at least four more years of useful life. I replaced the 9-volt battery with one of the recommended types, a Duracell MN1604, but no dice. I also tried removing the battery, unplugging the unit and pressing the test button for 30 seconds to reset it, put the battery back in, reconnected the AC power, and it kept on emitting the triple chirps. Moreover, the alarm wouldn't sound when the test button was pressed for several seconds. By all appearances,it was defective. Eventually, I unplugged it, removed the (fresh) battery and just let it sit for about 20 minutes, then put the battery back in and reconnected the AC. It appears to be working normally again now, as the green LED is on steady and it hasn't chirped in more than an hour. I suspect that the recommended "trick" of pressing the test button to reset the alarm from a low-battery event doesn't really work and the only thing that works reliably is just let it sit completely unpowered for a certain amount of time.- EDIT: The unit again started emitting triple-chirps about two hours later, so I went online and found the official First Alert user manual in PDF format. It says that three chirps with the LED blinking in unison indicates a "malfunction". In other words, it's broken and needs to be replaced.

[@scorchedtoad]

Thanx, the holding it down to clear it did the trick

[@flaggstaff382]

What made it chirp after u did 15-20sec reset? Were u pressing something?

[@alexiermayes722]

Oh my goodness thanks so much - I was just going to throw it at the floor hahaha -

[@HH-du4rc]

I thought this vid would help me because it was the first one I watched that talked about a reset. But mine is wired into the ceiling and doesn't look like I can separate or take that out unless I really got into the wires up in there and took them apart. I'd rather not do that.. but I have several chirping and its driving me crazy, the batteries changed, the test button works, I held it down anyway like you said (while wired in) and still chirping.. i give up. The model I have is from 2015: 7010BSLA

[@875amy]

I wish you had told me to wear earplugs before I started but thank you it went great ☺

[@tubastuff]

Some lithium 9v batteries are a bit oversized, as compared to the regular alkaline ones. I've found that I have to remove the unit (mine are the hardwired CO-smoke ones) from the ceiling bracket to be able to wiggle the replacement battery in. Hopefully, I won't have to do this again for 10 years.

[@1990kak]

Perfect thanks!

[@cerenademe9433]

Great tip about removing and discharging the battery, but how left off the bit about how to unplug the thing!

[@dos2461]

Thank you!!!💪🏾

[@AAATowDriver]

My granny has this smoke alarm. Some contractor/handyman came in and said she needed new wiring of the entire house. I tried the procedure and replaced the battery but still getting the 3 fast beeps. Does this need to be plugged in for the 3 beeps to go away? Granny lives about 30 miles away, but i'd rather call First Alert if I can just replace the unit.