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Smoke alarm went off at 5.30am - reassure me?

18 replies

tallulah2014 · 05/06/2021 09:46

This morning at 5.30am I was woken by the smoke alarm. I assume it was the downstairs one (there is also one on the upstairs landing), but I was so tired and I hate, HATE the noise they make so basically hauled my dp out of bed to turn it off as I couldn't reach it. It sounded like the downstairs one that was making most noise and it was 4 loud beeps, a short pause then 4 beeps again.
It went off about 3 or 4 times before we managed to pull it away from the wall and press the reset button which stopped the racket.

There was no fire, obviously, it was very warm in the house but I couldn't see any obvious dust or bugs on the alarm and I only hoovered it a few weeks ago.

We have a co2 alarm in my son's room, where the boiler is and I spent a good half hour panicking but trying to calm myself and resist waking the children up to march us all outside... after a lot of googling all I could find was 4 beeps meaning co2 - so then I worried that the co2 alarm might be linked to the smoke alarms, even though the landlord has never mentioned them being connected!

I eventually fell asleep after testing the co2 alarm and realising it makes its own sounds, which is 3 short beeps - I figured this alarm would have sounded along with the smoke alarm, if co2 was about, yes?

I'm still worried this morning as both myself (sleeping downstairs) and my son (bedroom with boiler) are feeling groggy this morning - you know when you feel you haven't slept, your eyes are heavy and you just feel...bleh? No headache or anything like that, however this I think can be a symptom of co2 poisoning- as well as sleeping in a hot room, which obviously we also did last night!

Someone put my mind at rest or tell me whether of you were in my position, you'd call the gas board (or whoever it is I'm supposed to be ringing about a co2 alarm issue) out today, just in case?

Ps - the smoke alarm is hard wired in, but obviously does have a battery. The low battery alert is a chirrup, so not what we had last night.

OP posts:
bonfireheart · 05/06/2021 10:21

Maybe get someone to come check and qt least it will reassure you?

Thesearmsofmine · 05/06/2021 10:24

Could you buy a new co2 alarm? How old is the one you have?

Thesearmsofmine · 05/06/2021 10:25

Also is the co2 alarm is the correct place? Our gas engineer advised us where to place it.

4PawsGood · 05/06/2021 10:28

I’d just get a separate carbon monoxide monitor (will help your googling to call it the right name, CO2 is carbon dioxide and what we breathe out).

Thesearmsofmine · 05/06/2021 10:32

@4PawsGood

I’d just get a separate carbon monoxide monitor (will help your googling to call it the right name, CO2 is carbon dioxide and what we breathe out).
Of course it is! I can’t believe I was typing co2 monitor instead of carbon monoxide 🙈
murbblurb · 05/06/2021 10:33

Smoke alarms do have a limited life and can fail. Replace that alarm and check the dates on the others and your CO monitor.

Gas boiler service too if not done recently.

ThePontiacBandit · 05/06/2021 10:38

We had a fire a few years ago (relevant). We were living in temporary rented housing afterwards and the smoke alarm went off in the night. Scared the crap out of us, but there wasn’t a fire! We think it was triggered by a power cut. I would ask to get yours properly test and check it’s all okay.

choosername1234 · 05/06/2021 10:43

If it's battery powered could it need new batteries? IME when smoke alarms go off the noise is constant not intermittent with gaps

L0bstersLass · 05/06/2021 10:50

Was there a power cut? Our fire alarm makes that noise after a power cut and we need to reset it.

Is the cooker clock flashing 00:00 or does it still show the correct time?

Thecatsawinner · 05/06/2021 10:51

Open all the windows today, get out in the air. Buy a new carbon monoxide alarm from somewhere like Homebase or argos, fit it today and then stop worrying.
Sometimes alarms go off

PivotPivotPivottt · 05/06/2021 10:56

Something similar happened to me a few months ago and I called the gas board for advice and they offered to send someone out to check to put my mind at rest. The engineer came out and checked over my boiler and alarms. He even released a tiny carbon monoxide from the boiler to show me how quickly his alarm picks up any traces and his alarm beeped within about 2 seconds. So if you are really worried there's no harm calling. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a big fear of mine whenever someone has a headache my mind automatically jumps to that.

safariboot · 05/06/2021 11:10

I've never heard of CO and smoke alarms being linked. But you could get a separate CO alarm to check.

How old are the alarms? Smoke alarms are supposed to be replaced after 10 years. Maybe it's false alarming due to age?

NotDavidTennant · 05/06/2021 11:19

it was 4 loud beeps, a short pause then 4 beeps again.

That sounds like it was signalling a fault. Either low battery or the alarm is coming to the end of its life and needs to be replaced.

hedgehogger1 · 05/06/2021 15:51

I bet it just needs a battery replacing

crapbagmikecrapbag · 05/06/2021 16:03

As others have said, check the 'replace by' date on your alarm. We had an issue with our alarms when we had smart meters put in- something about the electrics being switched back on, and the age of the alarms, made both break.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 05/06/2021 16:06

@safariboot

I've never heard of CO and smoke alarms being linked. But you could get a separate CO alarm to check.

How old are the alarms? Smoke alarms are supposed to be replaced after 10 years. Maybe it's false alarming due to age?

I was thinking the same, I've not heard of joint ones either. Sounds a good idea though and worth looking into.
HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 05/06/2021 16:15

Ours beeps when the back up battery needs replacing, it's wired into the mains but has a 9v battery in case of power outages, after a while the battery depletes even if it's not actually been used.

They can also beep if the alarm head needs to be replaced, they only last about 10 yrs max.

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 05/06/2021 16:26

Is it hardwired? Ours does this when the back up battery needs replacing

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