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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Help - smoke alarm beeping

15 replies

Whattodo20192 · 30/08/2019 00:21

Hoping someone will be able to help me. My smoke alarms are going off every 20 minutes for the last hour. They are electic with a battery back up. I think it means the battery needs replacing but I dont have spare batteries and dp is working away. Our two dc's are asleep. Can I stop them from beeping?

OP posts:

TheGirlWhoLived · 30/08/2019 00:21

Erm.... is there a fire?

Original poster

Whattodo20192 · 30/08/2019 00:24

No fire, no smoke. Checked the oven and the hob etc

OP posts:

Lockheart · 30/08/2019 00:27

Consulting the instruction manual that came with them might help a smidge...

Likethebattle · 30/08/2019 00:30

Take the faulty one down, the bit that makes s noise should actually unscrew or uncoupled from the bit that attaches to the ceiling. Once it’s off take the battery out. This is a temporary fix only and you must put it back up once you get a new battery.

Original poster

Whattodo20192 · 30/08/2019 00:30

@Lockheart

Its a rented house, I don't have the manual

OP posts:

Katzia · 30/08/2019 00:30

Take out the backup battery and leave them running just on mains. This will stop the beeping. Replace battery asap.

RosaWaiting · 30/08/2019 00:30

Nope
This happened to me at 3am after I moved in

Always make sure I have spares now. It was so annoying, just like Phoebe in the episode of Friends.

RB68 · 30/08/2019 00:31

sounds like the back up battery also needs renewing - just disconnect if you can and replace batteries. I went to change the battery on mine and it fell out of the ceiling - so another job - I figured if it was old enough to fall out of its screw holes I best get a new one... apparently its toast proof!!

RosaWaiting · 30/08/2019 00:31

X post
Taking the battery out didn’t stop it here. I think in some big blocks of flats it’s an extra safeguard.

Likethebattle · 30/08/2019 00:34

Taking the battery out doesn’t work if it’s mains connected. I had to take mine down so it was just the bit that attached to ceiling that was left. I then removed the battery whilst it was down as it started to chirp!

Katzia · 30/08/2019 00:37

Google make and model for a manual if you cannot see how to remove battery. As they are electric do not detach unit from ceiling. There should be a removable part on the cover to allow access to battery. If you do find how to change battery be sure to turn off at mains before accessing unit for safety.

MitziK · 30/08/2019 00:37

Press and hold the reset - should stretch it out to every 12 hours or so (Google the make and model).

Then call the landlord first thing.

If it still goes off, it could be the carbon monoxide alarm triggering. Which is an emergency.

LisaMontgomery · 30/08/2019 00:40

Then call the landlord first thing.

Replacing batteries in a smoke alarm is the tenants responsibility. Phoning the landlord is only necessary if replacing the battery doesn't stop the intermittent beeping.

honeybeetheoneandonly · 30/08/2019 02:34

Is it just beeping or going off fully?
Ours had been fitted by the fire brigade a few years ago. When it started going off into full alarm mode every 20min, in the middle of the night, I rang the local fire station for advice (landline- not 999). The guy said, if they had time they would send someone round, otherwise it would be next day. They rocked up 20min later in a massive fire engine and changed the alarm.

SilverySurfer · 30/08/2019 02:56

Mine was also fitted by the fire brigade. The beeping drove me mad until I got a friend to take it off the ceiling, couldn't see anywhere for a battery so have hidden it somewhere where it is still beeping if ever I uncover it.

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