Like other regular smoke alarms, a hardwired smoke detector is crucial and essential in your house or organization.
It will help you detect early fire signals, keeping you and your loved ones safe from impending danger. However, what if it stops functioning as efficiently as expected?
What if you want to examine it? What if its service term has reached an end? Is It Safe to Unplug Hardwired Smoke Detector?
Yes, it is safe to unplug a hardwired smoke detector. Your device may be beeping so much that it becomes annoying.
This is usually an indicator that your hardwired smoke detector is not fully functional and needs to get examined or replaced.
If you want it to stop beeping, you must unplug the device from the clip and take off the battery.
Like any other device, the hardwired smoke detector may malfunction, producing beeping sounds or sounding false alarms.
If this happens, then you can unplug a hardwired smoke detector.
In this article, we will address several FAQs about smoke detectors and give guidance on the know-how when handling them. Read on to learn more!
Can You Unplug A Hardwired Smoke Detector With Battery Back Up?
A hardwired smoke alarm is usually connected to your home’s or organization’s electrical power.
While standard detectors exclusively use batteries, hardwired ones use electricity and batteries.
A hardwired smoke detector is primarily powered by electricity and would function as long as your home has a power supply.
The batteries are usually a backup and would function in case of a power outage.
In case of a malfunction, you can unplug a hardwired smoke detector with a battery backup. Here is how you’ll do it:
- Shut off the main power breaker in your home. This will save you from any electrical danger when handling the device, as it is mainly connected to electricity.
- Detach the unit’s power cable and take the alarm down.
- Take out the backup battery.
- You will need to drain any residual charge. To do it, hold the test button for about 15 seconds to drain it.
- You can reinstall or replace the backup battery, depending on its functionality. You will know this once you test it. If it functions fine after reinstalling, you won’t need to replace it, as it is still in good shape. If it doesn’t function as effectively when testing, then you’ll need to replace the batteries.
- After reinstalling or replacing, reconnect the alarm to the power cable, then replace the alarm.
- Turn back on your property’s main power break.
How Do You Stop a Hardwired Smoke Detector from Beeping?
Your smoke alarm constantly chirping or beeping is usually a cause for concern and should always be addressed.
Sometimes the alarm may beep or chirp for no reason. You are not cooking, so it probably has not sensed any smoke. So, what could be the problem?
Annoying as they are, your smoke alarm beeping or chirping every thirty seconds could indicate low battery or a general default of the device. In essence, it’ll require you to attend to it quickly.
While you may opt to replace the batteries, it is sometimes a temporal solution as the smoke detector may persist in making the sound.
NOTE: The first thing you need to do is to ensure, through checking, that there is no smoke from the house. This is because, under normal circumstances, the alarm would go off once it senses any smoke.
However, if you determine that there is no smoke, the following steps will help you stop the beeping from your hardwired smoke detector.
- The first and most challenging part is locating the chirping detector. This is because hardwired smoke detectors are interconnected. When one goes off, it signals the rest, and they equally ring the alarm.
- Set up a ladder on an identified location. This is the safest and most comfortable way to access the detector.
- Once you’ve located it, press the test/silence button located on the front of the detector.
Doing so might help silence the detector. However, if the beeping persists, you will have to remove the entire device and examine the source of the problem. You’ll remove it b following the following steps:
- Grasp your smoke detector as firmly as possible, then turn in an anticlockwise direction. Do this until it loosens up from the base.
- The battery compartment is located at the back of your device. Locate, then open it.
- Detach the battery from the device. Since it is hardwired, a screwdriver will help loosen the screws holding the alarm wires. Remove them from the device. As much as the lines are low-voltage, a DIY should be careful. You should avoid touching the exposed copper ends together.
Caution! Removing the battery to stop your beeping device is only a temporary solution. Disabling your smoke detector is very unsafe. Therefore, you must look for a permanent solution as soon as possible.
So, how do you troubleshoot your beeping alarm? To find a permanent solution, you must troubleshoot your smoke detector and determine why it has been beeping.
It is only through troubleshooting that you will identify a permanent solution.
Research from National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) indicates that three out of the possible five fire deaths occur in properties with faulty smoke alarms.
This is why the agency stresses the need to have a functioning smoke detector in all the sleeping areas and all floors of the house.
You do not want to contribute to the 3-fire deaths statistic because your device kept beeping, yet you failed to have a permanent solution. Promptly begin troubleshooting by addressing the reasons for your device’s beeping.
Highlighted below are some of the factors to look into as a way of troubleshooting:
- Dead Batteries
A smoke detector should beep if the battery begins to lose its power. Usually, it’ll beep but still sense smoke or function adequately for about 30 days.
This also applies to the hardwired designs, as it could indicate that the backup battery is almost malfunctioning. You will need to replace the batteries to solve the issue if this is the case.
- Alarm Replacement
Sometimes, the beeping indicates a problem more significant than the batteries. It could signify that the alarm has completed its service term and needs a replacement.
Most manufacturers produce devices that last for a 10-year maximum, after which parts of the alarm may become faulty.
Therefore, check the manufacturer’s date on the back of the device and add ten years. You will then gauge if you’re the whole device needs a replacement.
- Faulty Battery Peg
Perhaps you’ve changed your battery to stop the device from beeping, yet it won’t stop. You may have overlooked a minor detail. Different manufacturers have different designs for their alarms.
If you have just purchased your hardwired smoke detector with a 10-year sealed backup battery, the chirping may indicate that you failed to remove the battery pull tab.
To solve this, remove the tab after providing AC power to the alarm to function as desired.
- An Open Battery Cover In the Smoke Detector
Some hardwired smoke alarm manufacturers will encase a backup battery in a small drawer.
After a battery replacement, ensure that the cover perfectly fits within the slot and that the drawer comfortably closes.
A device with such a feature will beep to indicate that the battery has not made contact with the terminals. Properly cover it to stop the beeping.
- Partial Obstruction of the Battery Terminal
During the battery replacement, anything as small as a dust speck or pollen may prevent it from functioning correctly.
Therefore, ensure you vacuum the area where you’ve removed the battery to remove dust and debris before inserting the replacement.
- Temperature Fluctuations
Your smoke detector may be beeping because of a sharp variation in the temperature or humidity in your home.
For instance, the device may have grown too cold to deliver an electrical charge during an abrupt drop in temperature.
A steamy shower leaving behind hot and moist air can also cause the beeping of your device.
Avoid false alarms by repositioning the devices near the kitchen or bathroom door or directing hot air away from the alarm vents.
- Airborne Particles
The small light sensor within some smoke detectors is usually very sensitive.
They are sensitive to elements as minute as ash, pollen, or dust that might have been blown through an open window.
These elements can interrupt the light sensor resulting in your device’s beeping.
Clean the smoke detector using a dry microfiber cloth, a can of compressed air, or a vacuum. Voila! You’ll be surprised that this stops the annoying beeping.
- A surge In the Power Supply to Your Hardwired Smoke Detector
Power surges would rarely cause a problem with your smoke detector. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of it interfering with the normal functioning of your device.
We know that one device will alert and activate the entire circuit. This is a challenging puzzle, as locating a damaged device can be a hustle.
Begin by identifying the breaker and shut it down. Let the system rest for a few minutes, then flip the breaker back on.
If the beeping doesn’t stop, then you’ll have to do an individual analysis of each device to identify the problem.
Testing the individual hardwired devices would require shutting the breaker and detaching the device from the base, removing the battery backup, removing the wires using a screwdriver, twisting the ends of like colors, and finally reactivating the breaker.
If the beeping stops after the described process, then you’ll have identified the issue. If not, keep moving to the next device until you get one with an issue.
- Accidentally Activating the Silent Mode On Your Device
Smoke detectors can beep despite being in silent mode. This is not an indicator of a problem with your device. Instead, it is a reminder that the device may be out of order.
This was a common problem in the olden days because the older devices featured separate test and sound buttons.
However, modern models contain all-in-one buttons that would prevent the smoke alarm from beeping while in silent mode.
- Presence of a Residual Charge from Previous Batteries
A smoke detector contains some components which may retain a charge. This especially happens if the batteries are not fully drained when replaced.
This may fault the detector, causing it to chirp intermittently. Fix this problem through the following easy steps:
- Removing the smoke detector from its base
- Open the battery casing and detach it
- Press and hold the test button for about 30 seconds
- Return the batter to the device, then snap the device back into its base.
The examples provided indicate many factors that may cause your hardwired device to beep. Replacing the battery can be a temporary solution.
However, it is best to troubleshoot the exact cause of the problem to get a more permanent solution.
How to Reset a Hardwired Unit With a Removable Backup Battery
If you have tried out several ideas to stop your beeping and it still won’t stop, your hardwired smoke detector must visit the electrical panel.
All hardwired electrical systems, including the smoke detector, must be on electrical breakers to protect them from damage or dangerous conditions. However, finding the breaker can be such a sport!
A fire alarm is rarely placed on its circuit. Local fire codes always recommend that smoke detectors should share a lighting or outlet circuit.
This is to bar the owners from shutting them off or not realizing a tipped breaker.
If the breakers are not marked, try out by flipping lighting circuits till the smoke detector dims or begins chirping.
Pro tip: use a pen tester since finding the appropriate breaker may be challenging.
Once found, reset a hardwired unit with a removal battery backup through the following steps:
- Detach the smoke alarm from its base and disconnect the power.
- Detach the battery
- Place and hold the test button for about five seconds
- Reconnect the power and return the battery. Once you’ve done this, expect the unit to chirp once. It will then be back to normal functioning.
Note: Push and hold the test button on the face detector to confirm if it is back in order. If the problem persists, call or visit your manufacturer or a technician as soon as possible.
Will Unplugging a Smoke Detector Set It Off?
No, unplugging a smoke detector will not set it off. You can unplug it by removing the smoke alarm’s battery but it will not activate it.
Instead, it kills the device’s power and leaves it dysfunctional.
You are recommended only to remove the battery when replacing it.
If you want to mend your hardwired smoke detector, you must understand it before anything else. The device is electronic equipment that connects the whole of your household and has very fragile sensors that require proper care and handling.
It contains three wires. Two of the wires supply the detector with 120vac power and black and white wires.
The third wire is a red one. It connects the smoke detector to the house’s electrical system and signals other detectors whenever smoke is sensed within their environment.
The detector is powered by electrical power. Ensure that you first switch off the circuit breaker before you begin working on it.
This is to keep you safe from electrocution and other electricity-related dangers. You must also test the wires first with a tester. Begin this by detaching the detector from the mounting plate.
With an adapter, you will not need wiring. You only have to remove the existing smoke alarm harness and plug it into your adapter. After this, plug the new adapter into the new smoke alarm.
You might need to change the mounting ring which consists of two screws.
Rewiring your hardwired smoke detector is the most complex way of replacing it, which you don’t need to do.
The steps involved in changing the wiring harness are described below:
- Turn off the primary power source.
- In an anticlockwise direction, turn your alarm to loosen it.
- Unplug the smoke alarm from its base.
- Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the mounting bracket.
- Disconnect any old wiring harness from the wires present
- Now, connect your new wiring harness and tuck your wires back in position.
- Install the new mounting bracket and connect the newly acquired smoke alarm.
- Twist the alarm to secure it, then turn the power source back on.
- Test the smoke detector to see if it’s properly functioning.
Therefore, this is to say that unplugging a hardwire smoke detector will not set it off. You will only leave it dysfunctional.
Follow the above procedure and replace the old alarm for continuous protection of your life and that o your loved ones.
How to Disconnect Hardwired Smoke Detector
You may need to disconnect your hardwired smoke detector for several reasons. It could constantly be beeping or chirping, and the noise could be so disturbing that it makes you insane.
You could also disconnect it if it has served you for the maximum number of recommended years and now it’s time for a replacement.
Follow the following steps to disconnect your hardwired smoke detector:
Step 1. After switching off the primary power source, test the wires with a tester. This is necessary to ascertain that no power is coming through them. If you can continue, start pulling the wire and connector from the detector to separate them.
Step 2. If possible, use a screwdriver to unscrew the screw connected to the wall or ceiling from the smoke detector you are handling.
Step 3. Detach the connected mounting plate from the ceiling or wall. Also, do this by slipping the screw through the holes in the mount.
Note: Removing the screws in the process is not a must. Besides, they would serve you at no extra cost when it is time to attach the new mount.
However, doing it will keep the holes open. This will be a good opportunity for you to paint over the gap.
Keep your household safe by tucking the wires into the hole for safety. Do this if you are not planning to replace the smoke detector right away.
This simple procedure will help you disconnect your hardwired smoke detector.
A battery-operated smoke detector is available if the procedure is too complex for you. It functions just as effectively, only that its only power source is the batteries in it.
This is an easier option to replace. Why? A hardwired smoke detector contains electrical components which can make its replacement a bit more complex.
However, use the right tools and follow the described procedures. Remember to be cautious throughout the whole process for safety reasons. You will have to disconnect your device, ready for a replacement.
Why Is Smoke Detector Not Turning Off?
If your smoke detector is not turning off, it means that it sounds the alarm unnecessarily, even if it has not sensed any smoke. Here are some reasons why your smoke detector is not turning off.
- Dying Batteries
The most likely reason why your smoke detector keeps going off is linked to its battery. If you are not changing the batteries as often as recommended, your alarm will likely begin to sound.
Under normal circumstances, the strength of the sensor’s signal will go up once they detect what they are supposed to. Smoke detectors operate differently.
They are designed to go off whenever an electrical current goes down since the smoke in the air will reduce this current.
If your battery is almost dying, the currents going through your sensors also go down. As a result, your device will give you a false positive.
People will likely change their batteries soon as they move into a new house, but then they leave it at that.
You are encouraged to change your battery after six or more months constantly, yet most people ignore this.
They wait for the alarm to go off first for them to check it. Avoid this problem by regularly replacing the batteries as recommended.
- Closeness to the Bathroom
Your smoke detector is probably not turning off because of where you located it. Having your detector too close to the bathroom will likely give you a false positive.
The steam from your hot shower will sometimes cause a false positive. This is because the steam can block the current flow from your alarm, as smoke does.
Anything heavier than usual, present in the air, will likely cause your alarm to go off. You should reinstall it away from the bathroom if you don’t want it to go off.
It will always need a smoke detector in the kitchen. However, since various cooking will result in smoking around you, the detector will likely go off. Stop it from doing so by opening the window while cooking.
- Presence of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Room.
Paintings or other chemical treatments in the house contain volatile organic compounds, which may be responsible for the constant beating of your alarm.
These are the chemicals that keep your paint wet and also dry it all together.
If the sensor is tuned to extremely high sensitivity, it can sense these compounds, causing the alarm to go off.
Once you determine that your smoke alarm won’t turn off yet it is false, follow the following procedure to turn it off:
Press, then hold the reset button on your smoke alarm
The reset button is located at the center or the front of the alarm. Feel around the sides of the alarm if you don’t see it. Once you find it, press and hold it down until the alarm turns off.
Take down the alarm if the noise persists.
Firmly grasp the alarm device, then gently pull it away from the device. Turn it counterclockwise for it to loosen up. Reach behind the device using your hands and feel if there is any wiring.
If there is, unclip the connector connecting the wiring in the alarm and the wall.
Remove the batteries from your smoke alarm.
The battery is probably covered in a casing. Get a plastic latch on one of the edges of the cover and finger-press it. Lift the cover off, then pull the batteries out.
A flathead screwdriver will also help you to get the batteries off. This should stop turning off the alarm.
Do I Need an Electrician to Replace Hardwired Smoke Detectors
I will not give a yes or no answer on whether you can replace your hardwired smoke or need an electrician. It solely depends on your competence level in electrical wiring.
It also depends on whether or not you are replacing it with units from the same manufacturer as the expired ones.
Hardwired smoke detectors connect to the building wiring through a pigtail wiring harness. This harness would then plug into the smoke detector.
Therefore, if you are replacing the existing units with the same product, you only need to plug it in, as the plug types are similar.
If not, you will have to undo the old pigtails and replace them with new ones.
To do this, you must get into the junction box under the smoke detector, undo the old splices and make new ones using wire nuts.
You can also use an adapter which we described earlier in the article.
You don’t want to keep your loved ones safe while putting yourself at risk. Replacing it is not challenging; you can do it as a DIY. However, if you have not done this regularly and may feel intimidated, call in your electrician.
Final Thoughts
Your hardwired smoke detector is constantly beeping or chirping and getting on your nerves. So,
Is It Safe to Unplug Hardwired Smoke Detector?
Yes, it’s very safe to unplug a smoke detector, sometimes your smoke detector might be faulty and could start beeping nonstop, at such point, the best and safer option can be to unplug it.
Cautiously follow the procedures described in this article to unplug it. However, note that this is a temporal solution as it will only leave your device dysfunctional, putting you at more risk if a fire crisis happens.
Troubleshoot why your alarm won’t turn off, then find a necessary, long-term solution.
Next time your hardwired smoke detector alarm won’t stop beeping, I’m confident you will know what to do. I hope this article was insightful!