The mains powered smoke alarms have a green indicator. Smoke Alarms have a red light that goes off every 40 to 60 seconds to tell you if they're working. When the smoke alarm is activated, the red light flashes continuously.
Mains powered smoke alarms are required to have a green “Power ON” LED indicator. This will light up when the alarm is connected to mains power. All smoke Alarms also have a red light that flashes momentarily every 40-60 seconds to visually indicate they are operating.
What does it mean? This is the power indicator light: First Alert and BRK alarms have a power indicator light to show you that your alarm is receiving power. Some alarms have a red or green light that blinks every few minutes, while other models blink rapidly or shine a solid light.
A smoke detector blinking red could mean: It's Working Properly: Some brands use an occasional red blinking light to indicate the unit is working properly.
Typically, a smoke alarm has a red and green light to allow you to understand the system is working properly. However, there are other models that will integrate a third light indicator to separate when a malfunction, power source, and a simple battery replacement might be needed.
For most residential smoke detectors, blinks are common; you need to be conversant with the colors showing. Different smoke alarms use the green and red LED to indicate the device's power status such that a flashing green means low battery while a constant blink means AC power is connected.
The green light on my smoke alarm has gone out, what does this mean? The AC power has been interrupted. Check the circuit breaker and AC wiring to correct the problem.
A blinking red light on a smoke detector is rarely cause for alarm. Instead, it usually means that the battery is low, or the detector is in need of a minor repair. If you notice a blinking red light, replace the battery first – but only if you're sure that it's still good.
Press and hold the test button on the smoke detector. It can take a few seconds to begin, but a loud, ear-piercing siren should emanate from the smoke detector while the button is pressed. If the sound is weak or nonexistent, replace your batteries.
If your alarms use regular batteries, swap in fresh batteries at least once a year. A “chirping” sound means that it's time to change batteries. Because alarm sensors wear out, replace each alarm at least every 10 years. Also, alarms have labels showing when they were made.
Here's a simple guide: Smoke alarms alert you with three beeps in a row. Carbon monoxide alarms alert you with four beeps. A single chirp means the battery is low or the detector should be replaced.
On the bottom of the smoke alarm is a reset button, press it!
You can also use real smoke to test the smoke sensor. To do this, light two or three matches, and hold them together a few feet underneath the detector. The smoke from the matches should cause the alarm to sound if the detector is functioning properly. If it doesn't sound, replace the detector immediately.
If your detector or alarm has a blinking or steady light with no audible alarm sound, this typically indicates that the unit is receiving power.
If your smoke detector is blinking red, it means that the batteries are low. While this can happen with all smoke detectors, it's more often the case with First Alert smoke detectors, since they are known for their exceptionally long battery life.
If the alarm continues to go off and no smoke is present, the cause may be one of the following: There may be insufficient battery power, try new batteries. Problems with voltage or insufficient electrical power (brown out) may cause a continuous weak sounding alarm.
Smoke detector shows steady green light – no alarm
Battery and electrical power smoke detectors will usually have a steady green light to let you know the detector has electrical power and is in working order.
Battery smoke detectors run solely on batteries. Hardwired smoke detectors run on electricity, but they also have a backup battery for power outages. When you hear a hard-wired smoke detector beeping, it means you need to replace its battery.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends changing the batteries in your smoke alarm every 6 months.
It also reinforces the advice to replace alarms every 10 years. Once a 10-year battery fails, the whole device needs to be replaced. When detectors are about that old or older, replace them all at the same time.
Check for a Fire
If your smoke alarm won't stop going off, reset the alarm after first checking that there is no actual fire in your home.
Many people consider it a difficult job to do. Most people ask themselves, “can I remove a hardwired smoke detector?” The answer is you can！ If you have to stop the hard-wired smoke detectors from beeping, you must unplug them from the clip and remove the battery.
A carbon monoxide detector is a must for any home and just as important as a smoke detector. CO detectors should be placed near all bedrooms; they're the only way you will know if carbon monoxide is affecting the air quality in your home, and can help prevent serious illness and even death.