Why Is My Fire Alarm Beeping?
Fire alarms play a fundamental role in the overall fire safety of domestic, commercial and residential buildings, and other organisations and properties.
However, as many people can relate to, there isn’t anything quite as annoying as a constant fire alarm beeping for no apparent or discernible reason.
In this article, the team here at Millennium Fire Protection has put together a handy guide to help you identify why a fire alarm keeps beeping, and how to safely stop it from happening.
Why is my fire alarm beeping?
A fire alarm beeping can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’re unsure of the cause. However, it’s important you establish whether it’s an easy fix or the fire alarm itself is faulty, as in the event of a real fire it’s imperative your alarms are fully functional.
There are many reasons why a fire alarm could be beeping, but first, try and establish the type of sound it’s making.
- A loud, continuous alarm
If your alarm is making a loud noise that is showing no signs of stopping, it means ‘alarm mode’ has been activated. This happens when the alarm has detected combustible substances in the air. If there is no real blaze, this mode could have been triggered for several reasons.
- If you’ve been cooking, the steam or vapours produced could have caused the alarm to go off, but this is unlikely to occur for very long.
- The chamber of the fire alarm that detects smoke could be dirty. Cleaning it is fairly straightforward, and your specific alarm will come with instructions on how to do it.
- An electrical issue may be causing the fault. If this is the case, it’s likely you’ll require professional help.
- Consistent chirping
Another type of error that is common for fire alarms is constant chirping. This can happen around every 30-60 seconds or just randomly depending on the fault – making it highly frustrating for anyone in the vicinity.
Typically, this will be because of a fault with the alarm’s battery. How to stop a fire alarm from beeping in this instance can take a number of forms. You can try changing the batteries, pressing the ‘test/hush’ button and making sure the battery pull-tab or other obstructions are removed.
If this still doesn’t work, there may be a loose connection that needs to be fixed by a professional engineer. If it’s a wired fire alarm beeping, this will be particularly necessary.
When to change a fire alarm
Trying to discover how to turn off fire alarm beeping can be incredibly frustrating, especially if nothing seems to be working. If this is the case for you, it is important to consider the age of your unit.
In the UK, fire alarms should be replaced every 10 years, but terminal faults can occur earlier than that. If your unit is seven years old or more, you may need to consider getting it replaced. A professional fire safety company will be able to help with this, advising you on the best type of product for you.
If your fire alarm keeps beeping after following our advice above, it’s time to call for professional assistance. The unit may be faulty and could need replacing in order to ensure your property is safe in the event of a real fire. At Millennium Fire Protection, we have years of experience providing leading fire protection services, including top-of-the-range fire alarm systems.
Operating across Harrow, Ealing, Watford, and the surrounding areas, get in touch with our team today to find out more.