How To Turn Off Incessantly Buzzing Smoke Alarm

Truegho

Our smoke alarm in the ceiling suddenly went off involuntarily this morning hasn't stopped. We think it is a battery operated one, as we tried turning off the electricity at the mains but it was still making a continuous buzzing. We can't even unscrew it from the ceiling by twisitng, and it doesn't seem to have any screws.

This blasted incessant buzzing is driving us mad, and so any advice you could give as to how to deactivate this accursed thing would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Mandelbrot

Hit it hard with something heavy ...
Then (after picking up all the debris) go and get a new one.

Neil49

Even mains powered ones have a battery backup inside and will bleep if the battery is low (even with power off)

If it's anything like mine it slides slightly sideways to release from the ceiling. You need to get close to it to see where to insert a small screwdriver into a narrow slot in the side in order to press down the release tab.

Others may twist slightly so you need to look for arrows (made of the same colour plastic to make things awkward) to indicate lock/unlock.

The batteries are usually the rectangular PP3. Get a good alkaline one. A cheap one will quickly go flat and you will be back up the ladders again!

I had to change my mains powered one recently and it still beeped once even disconnected from the mains and the battery removed so it must store energy somehow. When I put the new battery in and refitted to the ceiling it beeped again after a while then the light went to a steady green.

Best of luck

Truegho

Have now managed to unscrew the cover from the base, but I am blowed if I can find the battery. Don't want to risk probing around for battery in case of shock. I hate these accursed things, and it should be optional whether you want one installed or not. Have had to call the fire brigade. No other option,

Neil49 wrote: »

Even mains powered ones have a battery backup inside and will bleep if the battery is low (even with power off)

If it's anything like mine it slides slightly sideways to release from the ceiling. You need to get close to it to see where to insert a small screwdriver into a narrow slot in the side in order to press down the release tab.

Others may twist slightly so you need to look for arrows (made of the same colour plastic to make things awkward) to indicate lock/unlock.

The batteries are usually the rectangular PP3. Get a good alkaline one. A cheap one will quickly go flat and you will be back up the ladders again!

I had to change my mains powered one recently and it still beeped once even disconnected from the mains and the battery removed so it must store energy somehow. When I put the new battery in and refitted to the ceiling it beeped again after a while then the light went to a steady green.

Best of luck

UncleZen

Smoke alarms are designed to beep, when warning you of a low battery, always in the middle of the night - without fail.

neilwoods

Do you know how old this smoke detector is. It may be one the sealed units which come with battery, and the battery is not meant to be replaced. You then replace the whole unit.

Truegho

The fire brigade installed it in 2006. Rang them today. They said that as I could not see a visible battery under the cover, they said there was nothing they could do, and so advised that I ring the council's electrician, which I have done.

neilwoods wrote: »

Do you know how old this smoke detector is. It may be one the sealed units which come with battery, and the battery is not meant to be replaced. You then replace the whole unit.