Smoke Alarm

[Maydup]

A few weeks ago our smoke alarm chirped a couple of times in the night. Not a long constant noise just a few chirps. Next day I changed the battery.

Last night it chirped again a few times. Having checked the house and found no fire or smoke I removed the battery and went back to bed.

What could be the issue? 

[Sam1960]

The battery that you fitted a couple of weeks ago, was it a new battery, or was it one you had in the house already.

If it was one you had in the house already, change it for a brand new one.

Assuming your smoke alarm isn't hard wired, remove it from its housing on the ceiling, and using the hose from your vacuum cleaner (if you can)  give it a good cleaning.

If after all this, it still chirps, I would suggest that it might be best to replace it with a new one.

[Maydup]

Yes it was a new battery (and the previous battery hadn't been in very long) so I will try cleaning it, that's a good and obvious idea that I hadnt thought of. 

[netherfield]

It could like a computer printer, a chip inside after a few years tells it to go wrong so you've to buy a new one.

[bhg481]

Many of these alarms have a 10-year lifetime on them - how long have you had it?

[Tuvok]

Our previous fire detector would sometimes do that - I put it down to being in direct sunlight as when I took it down it was quiet.

 

[Maydup]

Rather than try to clean I decided out smoke alarms are pretty old so bought a couple of new ones today. Opted for the sealed battery model with 10 year lifespan.