My smoke alarm is chirping low battery and I've no replacement battery

[JustMyName]

I didn't get to bed until 2.30 am and have slept poorly for several nights now due to an injured shoulder and now my smoke alarm decides to alert me that the battery is low I've no replacement battery in the house, so looks like I'm going to have to get up and go and buy one. I know, I should keep a replacement battery in ...

I've never had to do this since my divorce, so no idea how to do it. I'm being totally pathetic and lying in bed crying from tiredness, pain and frustration! I don't even know if I can replace it as I can't stretch my left arm up due to my shoulder injury.

Totally fed up!

I've managed to open it and take the battery out, with great pain, as it took two hands. I'll see if it's quiet now ... 🤞

I think that type flips open.

Ah crossed posted.

Think there is a tab on the side, can just about see it. Press the tab in and it should fall open. I think once the battery is out there won't be any more noise, not mains. It is possibly quite old - the ones we had like that were at least 15 years old. The fire brigade were very good.

Thank you everyone. It seems to be silent now. Obviously I'm wide awake and will have to function on 4 hours sleep AGAIN Sorry again for the pathetic nature of my post. I'm normally strong independent woman and get on with things, I've just been in pain for too long and had enough, struggling with side effects of new antidepressants etc.

You aren’t pathetic. A chirruping smoke alarm is enough to drive anyone crazy, and if you’re already sleep deprived and injured it’s so much worse.

You did the sensible thing and asked for help.

Take the batteries out! Simples

I’ve got one of those and it’s not wired. See the flap on the left of pic? Give that a yank and just take the battery out for now.

Where about date you? I have an abundance of 9v batteries (long story)

Most are 9v square batteries

Ours runs off the mains but has a battery back up.
It is very irritating when it starts beeping to say it's running low. I think the worst thing is that it usually starts when it's colder-so at night. Sometimes by the morning it's warmer so it recovers. So I forget and then too late in the evening... BEEEP! and I have another night of it.
We can't even take the battery out as then the mains objects and beeps louder
Last summer it chose 10pm the night before dd's exams started to start beeping. It is just outside her bedroom.

The next night the carbon monoxide detector decided to show solidarity by joining it on the low battery. It spent the night outside for its pains

Thanks. I managed to open it and take the battery out. It is a 9v battery. I'm on the north east coast.

Witchend that sounds awful! I closed all the doors and could still hear it clearly. Luckily it's just a battery one, so once I'd taken the battery out it stopped.

Hi OP

I hope you are feeling better than the other day.

Just a reminder for you to replace your smoke alarm battery for you safety.

X

Thank you, that's kind. I haven't managed to get to the shops yet, but as soon as I do I'll replace it.

If it would help you I can post a couple to you? I'm central Scotland. You'd need to PM me your address though.

I've got one of these! you need a PP3 battery.

you already know how to open it. There's a plastic flap which hangs down from the battery section and may stop you closing the alarm with no battery in it. Tuck that behind the new battery. Be aware that when you push the connectors on to the battery there will be a sudden loud noise so don't be frightened into falling off the ladder!

once replaced that should be it for a couple of years. If the alarm doesn't stop sounding or doesn't work when you press the test button, it needs replacing. They are under a tenner from places like Wilkinson.