JoeCanuck
General Section => Off Topic => Topic started by: morgardee on January 14, 2011, 02:48:31 PM
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In the past 2.5 days I keep hearing my smoke detectors chirping at me. The first one was 6 months old and gave a short, constant beep but then stopped after 5 - 10 seconds. an hour later it did it again for about 30 seconds. So I went to Giant Tiger and bought a new one for $8.00. That's when the chirping started. What happens is it will beep one or two times every 30 to 90 minuets.
That was Wednesday. I took it back on Thursday, got another one and bought a 15 dollar one. Both those chirp and me the exact same way. I tried a bunch of different batteries as well.
So I went out again last night and bought a $40 one from Canadian tire AND stopped by the local fire station.
The guys at the fire station gave me a cheap one. It also beeped last night twice but that was at the same time my wife unplugged my son new computer from the way. His bedroom is right above the hallway where the smoke detectors are. So we thought it might have something to do with power and left the fire fighters on on the wall where a picture was hanging, not the ceiling. It was quite all night.
Today I bought the 3 new ones to work. I heard one go off in the car.
Since being at work all 3 have gone off in front of me. I went home at lunch at the fire fighters one also beeped at me. Ugh!
So now I picked up a brand new 4 pack of duracel and have the $40.00 smoke detector installed. If this chirps at me I have no idea what to do.
These things don't pick up natural gas leaks or formaldehyde of anything like that, do they?
Any advise beside "check you batteries"?
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it's cuz you're so damn hot, mor, it can't cope!
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That is messed up! My smoke detectors are hard wired so they do not have batteries. This is a call for Google!
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Wow, google sucked on that search...
So, let’s go through a quick checklist of things you can do to try to figure out why your smoke detector is chirping regularly:
1. Is there Smoke? If not, good! Go to step 2 ;-)
2. Check the Batteries: Obviously this is the first thing to check and replace. Don’t use rechargeable or “cheapy” batteries here. All the smoke detectors I’ve ever seen want alkaline batteries. I don’t usually splurge for “name brand” batteries, but I do for my smoke detectors. Use a new, fresh pack from the store. Really. It does make a difference.
3. Check the Expiration Date: As you just read, smoke detectors and other devices like them usually have expiration dates. Even if you’re off by a year or so, you’re probably better off replacing the whole unit ahead of schedule.
4. Clean It Out: Yes, smoke detectors usually mount on the ceiling or in high places, but that doesn’t mean they are immune from dust collection, cobwebs or even nesting bugs and spiders. When you have your smoke detector down you can try blowing it out with a can of compressed air.
5. Read the Manual: Don’t still have the manual? You can find most online now if you use Google and search for the brand of the smoke detector as well as the model. Still can’t find it? Go to step 6.
5. Call the Manufacturer: This is sort of a last resort and they will likely tell you to do some of the same things that are listed here. That being said, they might have some other tricks or they might know if a particular batch of smoke detectors had any issues or recalls.
I might try replacing the smoke detectors before they start beeping and chirping next time because you have to figure smoke detector technology probably gets better after five years… and it’s really no fun being startled out of bed by a beeping smoke detector at 3 o’clock in the morning.
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Yeah, google says "check your batteries" but I got a brand new Duracell in one of the units and it still beeped at me here at work.
So it can't be my house, I don't think.
Man, I need a fire detector techie. I need to understand how these things work!
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Thanks for looking Bandy.
You get a timbit.
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Morg.
apparently, you're not alone to have experienced this...
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64963165.tip.html (http://http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64963165.tip.html)
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it's cuz you're so damn hot, mor, it can't cope!
+1 to that, SNAKE!
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ill ask my uncle for his opinion, he work for tronto fire.
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just got of the phone with my uncle, he said to try vacuuming it out to get rid of any dust and, spider nest, etc. and if this doesn't work then they are faulty, and should be returned, and he asked if they were made by the same company.
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Thanks for looking Bandy.
You get a timbit.
I love TIMBITS!!!!
I hope you get this resolved.
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These things don't pick up natural gas leaks or formaldehyde of anything like that, do they?
No smoke detector does. But there is a detector that will detect CO, propane and natural gas leaks. I have to get one for my furnace room.
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It is being stored at a point where heat collects? Excess heat?
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My CO2 detector is plagued by dust. A good shake and vaccuum. But I also recommend a blowdryer as it is more effective it cleaning it out.
Good luck!
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Is it a long beep or a quick chirp?
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I just saw a Modern Family episode about this... ;D