Troubleshooting a Beeping Fire Alarm Hardwired Into a House

Clean away dust from your fire alarm’s sensors using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. The outer cover may appear to be clean, but dust can build up inside. This can cause the alarm to beep even when no smoke or heat is present.

Open the cover and remove debris inside. Occasionally, small insects find their way into the inner parts of your fire alarm and can cause the sensors to emit an alarm.

Replace the backup battery. A low battery will cause your alarm to emit a chirp, which is higher in pitch than an intermittent alarm. This chirp may also sound if the wiring is loose or malfunctioning.

Check that the battery pull-tab has been removed from new alarms and that the battery cover is closed.

Inspect the electrical connections and your breaker or fuse panel. A power interruption caused by a tripped breaker or a loose wire can cause the alarm to sound periodically. Each time the power flickers, the alarm is set off. A loose wire or a poor connection can cause this to happen.

Wait for a few hours if you’ve just turned your furnace on for the first time. A low-pitch, intermittent alarm will sound at random intervals if this is the cause. Duct work contains dust, and dirt and the oil and dust residues on your furnace may cause smoke or fine particles to be emitted through your heating vents for a short period of time after you switch it on. Once these are burned off, the alarm should stop sounding.

Consider the location of your smoke alarm. If it is near a cold air return, the dusty air can cause false alarms and beeping. Smoke alarms should be installed at least 20 feet from heating appliances such as furnaces and ovens, and 10 feet from appliances that produce high humidity.

Contact an electrician if troubleshooting doesn't stop the alarm. The cause may be a malfunction within the alarm itself or a problem in your home's wiring.