How to Silence a Smoke Alarm

Remove the battery and press the test button in the center of the smoke alarm for 10 to 15 seconds to silence it. Open doors and windows to air out the room or it will sound again. If you have an alarm that is wired into the AC current, disconnect the power, remove the battery and hold down the test button for 10 to 15 seconds. Restore power to the alarm once it has been reset.

Silence chirping or beeping alarms by replacing the battery. Alarm batteries should be replaced annually. Take this opportunity to vacuum the alarm's vents to rid them of built-up dust, insects and cobwebs. You can also use compressed air to clean the smoke alarm.

Check connections on AC and AC/DC smoke alarms. Loose wires may interrupt the power supply, which will cause the alarm to sound. This also happens when the domestic power supply is interrupted. Simply reset the alarm as described in step one and tighten the wire connections. The alarm will chirp or beep if the neutral wire is disconnected. Tighten the connection to silence these sounds.

Replace smoke detectors every 10 years. Faulty or old detectors may sound false alarms. Move smoke alarms that are too near to kitchens or sources of humidity as these conditions can also set off false alarms. Turning on the furnace at the onset of cold weather may result in several false alarms as residual oil deposits are burnt off. Simply air out the room and ensure that the furnace is in good working order.