Your alarm manufacturer may have included a blinking red light to let you know it's time to test the alarm again. The Batteries are Low: Usually accompanied by a loud beep, a blinking red light could mean the batteries in the unit are low. Consider adding fresh batteries and running a test to make sure it's working.
Most hard wired smoke alarms have batteries, so follow the same procedure as above. Hard wired smoke alarms typically have LED lights which help with the diagnostics. For models with green and red lights: green means it is working properly, red means it is not. Sometimes the green light will pulse.
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.
Flashing Red is Good on Many Models
Often when we see red lights on things like our car, or a red pen used by a teacher, we think the red is bad. However, on most smoke detectors, it is a good sign. Red flashing on some smoke alarms signals that all is well and it is working.
Most smoke detectors use a red blinking LED light to alert users to an active alarm. In this case, the red LED light will flash once for every 45 seconds that the alarm is active. This is usually a common thing across smoke detector brands, regardless of the manufacturer.
The most likely reason for an alarm sounding - without the presence of smoke or a fire - is dust inside the cover unit. If every alarm on the system is sounding, a rapidly flashing red light on the cover of one of the units will show where the alarm was triggered.
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.
A solid green light on your smoke detector indicates that the device is on and operating normally.
As the battery in a smoke alarm gets weak, the smoke alarm will “chirp” about once a minute to let you know that the battery needs to be replaced. Note: Only the device with a low battery will chirp. The other interconnected alarms should be silent.
On First Alert carbon monoxide alarms, the red light flashes to show the CO alarm is properly receiving battery power. If you do not see the red light flashing, change the batteries in the alarm immediately.
This battery characteristic can cause a smoke alarm to enter the low battery chirp mode when air temperatures drop. Most homes are the coolest between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. That's why the alarm may sound a low-battery chirp in the middle of the night, and then stop when the home warms up a few degrees.
Types of Smoke Detectors. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are essential safety equipment for your home. Smoke alarms sound an alarm when they sense the presence of smoke particles in the air, while carbon monoxide detectors sound an alarm when toxic levels of the invisible and odorless gas are detected.
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.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends changing the batteries in your smoke alarm every 6 months.
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.
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.
This First Alert Hardwired Smoke Alarm wires directly into your home's electrical system. This hardwired smoke detector uses an ionization smoke sensor to reliably detect smoke from hot, fast-flaming fires.
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.
Sooty or yellow/brown stains on or around boilers, stoves, or fires. Smoke building up in rooms. Yellow flames coming out from gas appliances except at natural gas fireplaces. The pilot lights blow out frequently.
Carbon monoxide gas is colourless and does not smell, so you cannot tell if it is around you. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: headache.
Dust, Dirt and Environmental Smoke
Dust and dirt that comes from activities like remodeling may set off your smoke alarms. To clean your smoke alarm, open it up carefully, and look inside for dust or dirt. Use a vacuum attachment or electronic aerosol cleaner to remove dust particles.
Luckily, if your First Alert carbon monoxide alarm is holding a steady red light, this means that it is operating normally.