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Original poster

Incessant Beeping driving me nuts

32 replies

NameChangeABC2020 · 17/01/2025 07:35

Confession - bit of a hoarder, I meant to declutter a bit over the break but didn't.

Something electronic started beeping every 30 seconds as if its batteries/charge is about to die,
Spent a couple of hours going through stuff yesterday evening, still not found it - it's a high pitched bleep that's hard to locate the direction of - I felt as if it was moving about yesterday.
I did come across lots of useful things I'd lost.

Any suggestions what it might be, or how long it will go on for?

OP posts:
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Taytocrisps · 17/01/2025 23:24

Had this problem once. It drove me mad trying to find the source. Eventually I tracked it down - it was a meat thermometer.

Copperoliverbear · 17/01/2025 23:21

Smoke alarm

Original poster
NameChangeABC2020 · 17/01/2025 09:33

thanks again everyone
No more displacement and delaying tactics - back to the boxes in the corner where I think the noise is.

.@DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe - I bet you hated them for that

I had the flat gutted and refurbished when I bought it, so no lurking things in cupboards - and no flats below me.
Will post when I track down what it is.

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 17/01/2025 09:30

Oh my god I literally woke up with this same problem today!!

I've worked out what mine is though
Mine is DVR that I've got for my cameras. Mind I've no idea why it's doing it or how to fix it!!

StScholastica · 17/01/2025 08:53

Fit bit.
CO alarm.
Our fridge alarms if it has a problem and flashes an error code.

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 17/01/2025 08:53

Our DS's DGM bought cheap toys from the pound shop for all the DGC - primarily based on the youngest wanting one, but she wanted to treat them all fairly.

They look bit like a tiny computer games console and beep randomly and incessantly, regardless of which buttons you press. They sound like one of those old-fashioned unkillable musical birthday cards that you could stamp on, beat with a rock or pour boiling water over and nothing would stop the horrid tinny noise.

After getting boring very quickly, that somehow made its way down behind the sofa and did its nasty worst - took us ages to track it down.

RainyWednesdayEveningNC · 17/01/2025 08:50

Wired in smoke alarms start beeping at 10 years old to ensure you replace them. When I bought my house the previous owners had flicked the switch in the fuse box to stop the noise rather than replace them. With that in mind could it be the flat below if you can’t find it, if there is one below that is.

Glittertwins · 17/01/2025 08:49

There isn't a smoke alarm that has been walled up in a cupboard for example? Happened to someone I know, weird beeping just after they moved in. Eventually located behind cupboards the previous owner had had put in!

Roselilly36 · 17/01/2025 08:48

We had this once, it was my son’s old sports watch that we found at the back of a chest of drawers.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 17/01/2025 08:46

Are you near a fast road?

Incessant Beeping driving me nuts
DatingDinosaur · 17/01/2025 08:38

Freezer defrost warning alarm?

GreenMeeple · 17/01/2025 08:28

We had this. Turned out to be the answerphone of the upstairs neighbours who had gone on holiday.

Original poster
NameChangeABC2020 · 17/01/2025 08:17

Definitely not the smoke alarm - it does have back up batteries (and with such high ceilings when they do go they're a nightmare to replace)

OP posts:
Mix56 · 17/01/2025 08:17

X post !

Barney16 · 17/01/2025 08:17

Smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector. One of my smoke detectors did this. Drove me nuts. I couldn't work out where the noise was coming from for ages which seems odd because the detector is really visible.

Mix56 · 17/01/2025 08:17

My wired smoke alarms have a back up battery inside that should be replaced every x years !

Dandylione · 17/01/2025 08:14

Wired in smoke alarms also have batteries I think - as a back up. Might well be that.

Original poster
NameChangeABC2020 · 17/01/2025 08:14

Wired door entry system, no landline
No one has been in to have left a PCB thing.

Breakfast and back to the search....

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChangeABC2020 · 17/01/2025 08:07

thanks for the suggestions - definitely in my flat, at a low level, and definitely in the bedroom, the sound isn't moving about that much

Definitely not mice or rats - feline detector! (who is enjoying helping and rediscovering old toys)

Smoke alarm is wired into mains rather than battery. And v high - 20ft ceilings
But I did buy a carbon monoxide detector a while ago - I had to buy a twin pack of CM and smoke alarm, didn't use the smoke alarm (and probably wouldn't of thrown it away of course🙄). Seems odd for it to be that though - I'd never have activated it.

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 17/01/2025 07:59

You don't have a cordless phone out of the charging cradle?

Icequeen01 · 17/01/2025 07:58

Could be a carbon monoxide alarm if you have one?

edwinbear · 17/01/2025 07:56

Had a similar thing a week ago, it was an old battery operated, scooter light. I was very close to calling out an electrician.

AmIPatience · 17/01/2025 07:54

Had this last year. It was a stand alone CO2 detector in the Boiler Cupboard. Beeping because the battery was low.

However, I was utterly convinced it was the Fire Alarms, so am very frustrated to say I spent £200 replacing all those units before concluding that I was bleeping up the wrong tree.

INeedAnotherName · 17/01/2025 07:50

I felt as if it was moving about yesterday.
A rat has eaten a small item and it's beeping away. Rats like hoarders 😬

Seriously though, it's probably a smoke alarm - did you buy a new one and forget to install it?

FreezingJane · 17/01/2025 07:46

Our front door bell does this weird buzzing thing when the batteries are low. Took me ages to figure it out!