Smoke alarm help required urgently!

[BiscuitNibbler]

Managed to set off the smoke alarm this morning at 7.25am after burning some toast.

It is one of the ones wired into the mains, and after opening all the doors, flapping madly at it with cushions, magazines etc, eventually disconnected it in the hope of getting it to shut up.

Despite being disconnected it is still going off (therefore must have some battery back-up in it). I can't get it apart to remove the battery.

I currently have it squashed between two thick cushions to muffle the noise.

Is there anything I can do to shut it up? Does this mean it is broken and needs to be replaced?

I am in the doghouse because DH went on a rare night out last night and didn't get home until the early hours. I had promised him a lie-in, but two hours of incessant ringing of the alarm isn't conducive to sleeping off a hangover.

will have battery back up in it and you will need to get it out, however if its still going off and theres no smoke i would suggest it is faulty and need to be replaced, a qualified electrican is needed as its mains wired and you should not do thid yourself. try google search for the brand andsearch how to remove battery but usually there is a bit that slides off. to reveal the battery

I don't know, but with the make and model, it's probably possible to look up the maker's instruction s on the net.

Great, advice, can't believe I didn't think of looking for instructions on the net!

Found the instructions, and managed to get the battery out. It is still whimpering a bit, very quietly (must have magic power!) but this is fading.

Right, I suppose I need to find an electrician who is willing to do a very small job - virtually impossible round here! Will probably end up getting a battery one to tide us over.

Thanks for the help. It was driving me demented, and I just couldn't think straight!

if you know the make and model, surely putting a new one up will be about as simple as taking the old one down? Did it plug into a base or did you need a screwdriver?

Note mains powered so turn off the mains first.

It plugged into a base, Piglet, with a connector a bit like a phone plug, but a bit bigger.

Didn't consider it would still be available, as we have been here six years and it was here when we moved in, and I suspect it is as old as the house - about 14 years old. But definitely worth looking for. Off for a Google!

Just had another look at the unit and in tiny print it says "Replace unit by 2007".

Hmmm... it has been "superseded" apparently. There is a replacement but it has a smaller base.

well if they're all the same age, they'll all need replacing.

not such a small job now

Oh gosh, you're right, of course! Hadn't even thought of that.

Honestly, this house has been eating money this year!

Thanks, Piglet.