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Home Smoke detectors are all Beeping Batteries are not dead.???

gary350

Well-Known Member
We woke up this morning all 5 smokers detectors appear to be beeping. Its not a continuous warning beep. Beeps are 1 single beep about 1 per minutes. Smoke detectors are wired to 120 vac with a 9v mercury battery inside. Volt meter shows all the mercury batteries are 9.3v and batteries are not rechargeable. In the past we have heard beeps like 1 beep per month or 1 beep per week or 1 beep per day. Name on the front of the smoke detector says, US ELECTRIC. After removing all the batteries, testing batteries and putting batteries back into the smoke detectors all beeping has stopped. ???

TV weather says, humidity is low, pollen is very high 100%. We have been having 25 mph gusty wind for 3 days. New house air filter in the AC unit. We have a swamp cooler on wheels that recycles house air to remove pollen that was running 2 days ago but not today.

All the beeping worries wife. House is not on fire, I wonder about all the beeping.???


101_0898.jpg
101_0899.jpg
 
We woke up this morning all 5 smokers detectors appear to be beeping. Its not a continuous warning beep. Beeps are 1 single beep about 1 per minutes. Smoke detectors are wired to 120 vac with a 9v mercury battery inside. Volt meter shows all the mercury batteries are 9.3v and batteries are not rechargeable. In the past we have heard beeps like 1 beep per month or 1 beep per week or 1 beep per day. Name on the front of the smoke detector says, US ELECTRIC. After removing all the batteries, testing batteries and putting batteries back into the smoke detectors all beeping has stopped. ???

TV weather says, humidity is low, pollen is very high 100%. We have been having 25 mph gusty wind for 3 days. New house air filter in the AC unit. We have a swamp cooler on wheels that recycles house air to remove pollen that was running 2 days ago but not today.

All the beeping worries wife. House is not on fire, I wonder about all the beeping.???


View attachment 149584View attachment 149585

Hi,

I can only guess but if the detectors are a little older and dust gets into them, that could be causing the problem. It's interesting though that 5 detectors are doing the same thing. If there is nothing else common but the air in the room(s), then something may be in the air or else they cannot deal with the temperature extremes very well.

By playing with them some of the dust may have cleared out but that would be temporary. Next time you could try cooling one and see if it stops while the others don't.

It could have been a fluke in the air quality and may not return. It's very hard to say without a few tests.
You can get meters that measure the air quality and in this case it may be the particulate matter that is causing the problem. If the meter reads high when they start beeping, you know what is causing it.

I have used smoke detectors for many years now, many decades, and only maybe one time did I see a problem with dust. However, I have seen moisture in the air set them off on a regular basis. Replacing the detector with a newer model helped a lot with that problem, so maybe a new model detector would solve your problem too.
 
Hi,

I can only guess but if the detectors are a little older and dust gets into them, that could be causing the problem. It's interesting though that 5 detectors are doing the same thing. If there is nothing else common but the air in the room(s), then something may be in the air or else they cannot deal with the temperature extremes very well.

By playing with them some of the dust may have cleared out but that would be temporary. Next time you could try cooling one and see if it stops while the others don't.

It could have been a fluke in the air quality and may not return. It's very hard to say without a few tests.
You can get meters that measure the air quality and in this case it may be the particulate matter that is causing the problem. If the meter reads high when they start beeping, you know what is causing it.

I have used smoke detectors for many years now, many decades, and only maybe one time did I see a problem with dust. However, I have seen moisture in the air set them off on a regular basis. Replacing the detector with a newer model helped a lot with that problem, so maybe a new model detector would solve your problem too.

Very good idea. I looked above 1 door dust has settled over the door. It is very dry now 80°+ and 30 mph wind every day it is dry and dusty + pollen is 100%. I have a portable air compressor tank and air blower I can bring into the house to blow dust out of the detectors.

101_0901.jpg
 
There is smoke detectors with a battery as backup if the mains fail, as they are primarily powered by mains as the one in the first image appears to be (yellow, white, black wires from mains or link). Check a circuit breaker that supplies then or the chain wiring.
If one of the detectors triggers by any reason of failure, loose conection/splice, power loss, valid detection or unlinked, all 'daisy chained' will beep.

----> https://www.firstalertstore.com/sto...terconnect-hardwire-smoke-alarm-smi100-ac.htm

Typical bad connection reason :
1744815363378.png
 
Last edited:
Check the date of manufacture on the detector. Mits recommended to change them every 10-years. ALSO, CLEAN THEM ONCE PER YEAR.

Check the manufacturer's directions for cleaning. Most recommend against air compressors because they emit a small mist of oil and this oil causes pollen and other fine dust to accumulate inside the detection zone.
 
Depending on date of manufacture they may have reached their end of life. Then they all need to be replaced. Your local fire department may be able to assist. They will certainly be able to check them for you.
 

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