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A smoke alarm usually beeps for one of four reasons: the battery is low, the alarm has reached the end of its life, dust or insects are inside the sensor, or it is fitted in the wrong place. A single chirp every minute or so almost always means low battery or end of life.
This guide explains what each sound means, how to stop it safely and when your alarm needs replacing. If you have a FireAngel alarm, our FireAngel troubleshooting guide has model by model steps.
On this page: What the beeps mean · How to stop the beeping · How to reset your alarm · Common causes of false alarms · Why all your alarms go off at once · When to replace your alarm · FAQs
The sound your alarm makes tells you what is wrong. The patterns below are for FireAngel alarms. Most other brands work in a similar way, but check your product manual.
| What you hear | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| One chirp and one red flash every 40-60 seconds | Low battery | Replaceable battery: fit a new one straight away. Sealed 10 year battery: replace the whole alarm |
| One double beep every 40-60 seconds | Product fault | Contact the FireAngel Customer Support Team if the alarm is under warranty. Otherwise, replace it |
| Three beeps every 40 seconds | End of life | Replace the alarm. Every smoke alarm must be replaced 10 years after it was fitted |
| A continuous, loud alarm | Smoke or fine particles detected | Check for fire first. If there is none, clear the air and press the test/hush button |
| Every alarm in the house sounding together | One alarm in an interlinked system has triggered | Find the alarm with the flashing LED. That is the one that went off first |
Which FireAngel alarms have a sealed battery? The FA6620-R, FA6629S and SCB10-R smoke alarms and the FA6720-R heat alarm have a sealed 10 year battery, so a low battery warning means replacing the whole alarm. The FA6611-R, FA6615-R and SB1-R smoke alarms have a replaceable battery.
A low battery warning often starts at night. Batteries give out less power as the temperature drops, so the first chirp tends to come in the early hours.
Whatever the sound, never ignore it. A beeping alarm is warning you about something that could affect how well it protects you.
If your smoke alarm is beeping or going off, work through these steps:
If the beeping continues once the air is clear, reset the alarm.
Never take the battery out or disconnect an alarm to stop it beeping and then leave it that way. An alarm without power cannot protect you.
Most false alarms have a simple cause. Here is how to fix each one and stop it happening again. For more detail, read our guide to the top 10 reasons your smoke alarm goes off randomly.
Steam from kettles, pans and hot showers can look like smoke to a sensor. Open a window or turn on the extractor fan, then press the hush button. To prevent it, fit smoke alarms away from kitchens and bathrooms, and use a heat alarm in the kitchen instead.
Burnt food and cooking fumes can set off a smoke alarm fitted too close to the hob or oven. Ventilate the room and let the air clear before you reset the alarm. Fit smoke alarms several metres from cooking areas, and use a heat alarm designed for kitchens.
Dust inside the sensor can make an alarm over sensitive. Clean it gently with a vacuum cleaner or compressed air, especially after DIY work, building work or a long gap between cleans.
Deodorant, hairspray, cleaning products and air fresheners release fine particles that a sensor can mistake for smoke. Ventilate the room and use the hush button. Avoid spraying directly under or near an alarm.
Small insects can get into the alarm and interfere with the sensor. Remove the alarm from its base and clean it gently. Alarms with a built in insect mesh help prevent this.
Condensation and damp air can trigger some alarms. Improve ventilation, and avoid fitting smoke alarms near bathrooms, utility rooms or anywhere moisture builds up.
A low battery makes the alarm chirp at regular intervals. Replace the battery straight away, or the whole alarm if it has a sealed battery. Alarms with a sealed 10 year battery avoid repeat battery warnings.
Air from vents, windows and fans can disturb the sensor. Make sure alarms are fitted away from draughts and in the positions the manufacturer recommends. Our complete guide to installing alarms in your home explains where each type should go.
If your alarms are interlinked, one alarm sensing smoke sets off every alarm in the system. This is a safety feature, so everyone in the home hears the warning wherever they are.
To find the alarm that triggered first:
Discover our two smart interlinked alarm ranges: FireAngel One and FireAngel Pro Connected. Each range offers its own benefits, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs. While both ranges feature interlinked alarms, they can only connect with other alarms within the same range. This means you’ll need to choose one range for your entire system, as FireAngel One and Pro Connected alarms cannot be interlinked with each other.
Smoke alarm sensors wear out over time, so every smoke alarm must be replaced 10 years after it was fitted, even if it still seems to work. Replace your alarm if:
If you need new alarms, explore our range of battery and mains powered smoke alarms.
Our FireAngel troubleshooting guide covers what your alarm lights mean, how to find the replace by date, and step by step solutions for battery, mains and Pro Connected alarms. If your carbon monoxide alarm is beeping, visit our guide to why your FireAngel CO alarm is beeping.
For more help with your FireAngel One alarms, explore our YouTube playlist, featuring helpful videos on everything from installing your alarm and interlinking products to troubleshooting common issues.
Usually because of a low battery, an end of life warning, or dust or insects inside the sensor. Check the beep pattern in the table above to see which.
A chirp usually means a low battery or an end of life warning rather than a fire.
On FireAngel alarms, three beeps every 40 seconds is the end of life warning, so the alarm needs replacing.
Lower temperatures at night reduce battery power, which can trigger a low battery chirp. Humidity and condensation can also set off some alarms.
Yes. Steam from showers, kettles and cooking can look like smoke to the sensor.
Clean your alarms regularly, fit them away from kitchens and bathrooms, and use heat alarms where steam or cooking fumes are common.
Follow our FireAngel troubleshooting guide, which covers battery, mains and Pro Connected alarms.
If you can't find what your looking for on our blogs and looking for further guidance and advice, our UK-based Customer Support team are on hand all week from 8:30am until 5:30pm, they can answer any further queries you may have on our products, solutions or services.
