Fixing a Smoke Detector Alarm in Vancouver, BC

Wayward Fire Alarms

A smoke detector is an essential home safety device, and you would not want to be without one if your family experiences a house fire. It’s hard to remember that, though, if your smoke alarm goes off randomly in the middle of the night! Those jarring 2 a.m. wake-up calls can be enough to make you want to disconnect the smoke alarm entirely. Before you do that, though, read these tips on how to reset a smoke alarm.

What makes a fire alarm go off for no reason?

About 8 percent of the calls to which firefighters responded in 2022 were due to false alarms. Of these, the National Fire Prevention Association reports that about 31 percent are caused by a system malfunction. While that’s one major cause, there are several other possibilities to consider. Maybe your batteries are dead or dying, or maybe your smoke alarms are poorly placed. Smoke detectors can also go off because of airborne chemicals, like the ones released by wet paint.

Turning off the Alarm

If your smoke alarm is going off, you probably don’t care very much about statistics or what’s causing it. Honestly, your priority is probably just figuring out how to make it shut up. Here’s how to reset a smoke alarm:

Push the hush button. The hush button is typically the only visible button on the smoke detector, and it may be labeled “hush,” “silence,” or “test.” Press this button and hold it for at least 10 seconds. Once it’s quiet, inspect your property for any signs of smoke or fire before moving on to the next steps.
Change the battery or flip the breaker. If your smoke detector is battery-powered, and it keeps going off, replace the battery. If it is hardwired, flip the switch on the main breaker box, then turn it back on after several seconds. If you have a hardwired detector with battery backup, change the batteries while the power is off at the mains. If you attempt to change the battery of a hardwired smoke alarm without first cutting the power, you risk electrocution.
Reset the smoke detector. There’s usually only one button on a smoke detector, and holding it down for 30 seconds will reset the alarm. On some models, however, there is a separate reset switch, and this may require a pin, paperclip, or pencil to reset. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions, and if you can’t find your hard copy, look on the manufacturer’s website to be sure you’re using the smoke detector correctly.

Trust Accurate Security for 24/7 Fire Monitoring

Since 1968, Accurate Security has served homes and businesses in the Lower Mainland, and we’re the Greater Vancouver area’s premier choice for safety and security. One of the few family businesses left in the industry, Accurate Security was founded by Mark Oljaca and is now led by his son, Tony Oljaca. From our beginnings as a single locksmith store, we have expanded to seven different locations, offering a wide range of products and services beyond and including locksmithing. One of our services is 24/7 Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) fire monitoring. These systems are connected to various sensors in your home, to provide the best, most effective protection, with the signal sent directly to our monitoring station. Our nearly 70 employees have vast knowledge and expertise, and we are committed to the safety and security of our customers. Providing a complete range of safety and security systems, various products, and state-of-the-art services, we provide prompt and professional services that ensure you never have to feel unsafe in your home or workplace again. For a free security screening or to learn more about all we have to offer, get in touch with our seasoned team by calling 604.777.3888 or contacting us through our website.