You have just made yourself comfortable in bed, then you suddenly shoot up again: The smoke detector beeps, although there is no smoke to be seen anywhere – luckily. A false alarm is still annoying. We explain the reasons behind it and what you can do to stop the smoke detector.
False alarm due to steam from kitchen or bathroom
If the smoke detector beeps incorrectly, fumes from the kitchen or bathroom may be the reason. Because the devices do not only react to smoke caused by fire. Water vapour from the shower or smoke during cooking can also activate the smoke detector and thus lead to a false alarm. The same applies to smoke from an open fireplace. Therefore, smoke detectors should not be used in rooms where fumes or smoke often form.
A common cause of smoke detector interference signals is empty batteries. The devices are usually equipped with long-lasting energy sources, but as soon as their performance becomes weaker, most models emit a beeping sound at regular intervals. The signal is to be understood as a warning – and as a request to replace the batteries.
At least 30 days before the batteries are completely empty, the smoke detector starts beeping – this function is required by law and is designed to minimize the risk of you not noticing the dwindling performance of the smoke detector. To turn off the beeping, you should change the batteries in this case. What you have to consider, you can read further down in this guide.
Other reasons: Sunlight, insects, dust
If a smoke detector beeps, although neither fire nor smoke or smoke is involved, this can also have the following causes:
Too much sunlight: Is the smoke detector positioned so that it receives a lot of sunlight every day? The sensitive device reacts to strong light incidence with a beep under certain circumstances. In this case, you should find another, a slightly darker place for the smoke detector.
Insects in the housing: If spiders, flies or other insects inadvertently crawl into the smoke detector, they can trigger a false alarm. A small network inside the device can counteract this, preventing uninvited guests. However, not every smoke detector has such protection – so pay attention to this criterion when buying.
Dust: As on any object in the apartment, dust and lint are also deposited on a smoke detector. These can be the cause of constant beeping and dust can also affect the function of the device. Cleaning with a microfibre cloth should help.
Check radio contact and correct positioning.
False alarms can occur in apartments and houses with several networked smoke detectors. The reason for this is usually interference or a complete interruption of radio contact between the devices. In this case, it is necessary to check whether, for example, thick reinforced concrete walls block the radio signals of the devices.
If the smoke detector beeps frequently and for no apparent reason, this may also be due to incorrect placement. In general, smoke detectors must not be installed too close to walls. For optimum functionality, a minimum distance of 50 centimetres between a smoke detector and the wall is recommended.
Prevent false alarms: Regular maintenance
To prevent the annoying beeping sound, regular maintenance of all smoke detectors is important. In addition to cleaning the device with a damp (microfibre) cloth, you should also check its function regularly; a short check per month is ideal. A test button is attached to each device for this purpose. Press it for several seconds and wait for the beep. If it beeps, everything is fine and the battery is intact. If you hear nothing, you should take a closer look at the smoke detector and replace the batteries if necessary.
Replacing batteries – you should pay attention
The batteries of the smoke detector are usually very easy to replace, but there are a few things to consider.
To change the batteries, remove the cover and replace the old batteries with new ones.
Tip: Do not hang the smoke detector on the ceiling again until you have inserted new batteries – otherwise there is the danger that the use of new batteries will be forgotten and the smoke detector will not function in an emergency. It is better to place the device in a prominent place in the apartment, for example on the kitchen table, until you have got new batteries and can put it back on the ceiling.
Do not use rechargeable batteries for your smoke detectors. Batteries can run down quite quickly.
Alkaline batteries or models based on lithium are well suited. The latter has the advantage that they usually last longer than alkaline batteries. You can find more information on this topic in our guide “Batteries: This is how you find the right energy storage devices for your electrical appliances”.
If you don’t want to change the batteries, you can also equip your apartment with ten-year smoke detectors. As the name suggests, these have been ready for use for ten years. At the end of this period, the batteries will run out and the unit will be disposed of.
When it beeps: Act quickly
There are many reasons for smoke detectors that seem to be beeping for no reason – and they can often be remedied quickly. Insects in the housing, an unfavourable place too close to the wall or too much steam from the kitchen are possible reasons for a false alarm. Empty batteries are often the cause. No question, the acoustic signal disturbs – but under certain circumstances, it can save lives. The beeping sound indicates that the smoke detector is not functioning properly. So that the device can warn the residents in time in the event of a fire, the smoke detector should, therefore, be serviced regularly and every beep examined.