My smoke alarm keeps beeping.
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
I change the batteries and it’s good for a few days before it starts chirping again.
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
How many times should I replace the batteries before I just take it down? And drop kick it against the wall? And scream at it in short, repetitive bursts?
I think three.
Mighty Girl 
Have you seen the Modern Family episode with the smoke detector? So funny. And true.
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been there, kicked that…
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Mine did that…turns out it needed to be reset. Google the brand and see if there are redet instructions, it might just keep you sane
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It may be time to replace it all together. I know one of the smoke detectors in my house has a sticker on it saying that the whole thing needs to be replaced after x number of years (can’t remember exactly how many- 5 or 10 I think).
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Oh, this has happened to me. It was a hardwired detector. I unplugged and yanked the whole thing down. Ripped the back-up batteries out. IT STILL BEEPED.
When I wrote about it on my blog, someone left me this link to Phoebe from Friends in the comments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tkY08MhfoU&playnext=1&list=PL793762CB4570A9BF
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Replace it if there are no reset instructions. Seriously – not worth the time or the risk and I think you’re supposed to replace them in 7-10 years anyway. 🙂
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Do you watch Modern Family? Find the episode with Phil and the smoke alarm.
Oh nevermind, I found it for you! Episode 2.07 Chirp: http://www.movieweb.com/tv/TEl7s5r1zTCHoq/i-can-handle-this
I’m sure you will enjoy. 🙂
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Wait with the kicking until you take out the battery and seconds later…: BEEP!!!! THAT is scary and induces immediate kicking!
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That kept happening to us…turns out there was a spider web and dust in it…we blew it out with a can of air and now it works great!
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Doesn’t that just mean dinner’s ready?? Take it out of the oven and presto…problem solved! 🙂
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I’m thinking this is a great opportunity to have some hunky firemen come to your rescue! Don’t let the place burn down, of course…just call them up and ask if they’ll come out and take a look at it. Voila! House full of firemen 🙂
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This same thing happened to me the night after my neighbour’s house burnt down – true story. Needless to say, it freaked me out a tad.
Apparently they are programmed to start beeping incessantly after about 7 years or so, because you’re meant to completely replace them around that age.
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Three is a good number. I let ours get to five, and had to go on a long walk to recollect my sanity.
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My huz is a firefighter. The detector needs to be replaced ASAP. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Get a new one – now. Also, an easy way to remember when to change the batteries is to do it when you set your clocks ahead or back each spring and fall.
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We had seven smoke detectors beeping intermittently for months. I replaced each battery at least 5 times. We even had the electrician come out to replace the smoke detectors. Still beeped. Turns out compact fluorescent light bulbs that are on the same circuit can interfere with hard-wired smoke detectors. Once we replaced the light bulb with a standard one, the problem was solved.
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