First Alert Smoke Alarm Beeping 3 Times [Quick Solution]

If your First Alert smoke alarm beeps 3 times and you’re not sure why, you’re not alone. This kind of problem can be frustrating and confusing both because it occurs so often and because it’s so vague. So, what causes the smoke alarm beeping? Is it a sign of a fire? Is the battery dying? Or is something else happening? And if something else is going on, how do you fix it?

If you’ve heard three beeps from a smoke detector three times in a row, don’t panic — there are several reasons why that might have happened, and in this post, we’ll show you how to fix each one.

When your first alert smoke detector gives you three beeps every 3 or 4 minutes, it means that there is a hardware failure with the smoke detector. This can happen because of multiple reasons, including a dead battery, a loose battery connection, or the first alert smoke alarms having reached the end of their useful life.

Your smoke alarm’s incessant beeping is probably not a sign that it’s broken. Before you call in an electrician, try these simple fixes: check the power source, batteries, and the drawer condition. In addition, reset your smoke alarm to see if the beeping stops.

Next, we’ll go over all the aspects of the smoke alarms in our home. After learning their functions and how they all work together, we’ll examine a potential glitch that can make them seem broken.

First Alert Smoke Alarm Beeping 3 Times – Troubleshoot And Diagnosis

Most smoke alarms beep every few minutes because the alarm is too sensitive. If this happens to you, it can be a nuisance and may even lead to false alarms as people start to ignore any future warnings. Check out some of our tips on how to make your smoke detector stop beeping.

If you are having troubles with your hardwired AC powered alarm, don’t worry. While these problems can be more complicated to deal with than other system failures, they are thankfully rare.

The first thing we should check is whether or not it’s actually coming from your alarm. Most often, the issue lies with the backup batteries — usually a small part that acts as a power source for your sensors and control panel.

1. Use Another Power Outlet

The first step to troubleshoot a smoke alarm is to check that you have the correct power supply. The most common reason for an alarm not to function properly is a poor connection at the plug-in point. Make sure that there are no power dividers connected and that the power plug is directly plugged into the outlet. A different wall outlet will also likely give your device more juice.

The next step to take is to test the smoke detector itself by disconnecting it and plugging it into a different outlet.

If you’re prepared, you can wait to see if three beeps will occur. If so, we can continue with the next solution.

2. Change The Batteries

While the backup battery for the First Alert smoke alarm is a rare occurrence, it could sometimes send false alarms. To determine if this is happening, it would be best to replace the inbuilt battery and test.

Luckily, it’s quite easy to remove any possible hardware errors: just replace the inbuilt battery and test your smoke alarm for a few days. If the problems persist, you can simply return the product for a full refund.

For best results, use First Alert 9V or AA batteries in your alarms.

The battery of the smoke alarm should be replaced once a year. Replace your smoke alarm immediately if it’s more than 10 years old.

Here’s how to do it: Remove the old battery from the smoke alarm. Place a new battery into the compartment and close it. Lastly, mount the smoke alarm back onto your wall or ceiling.

3. Ensure The Battery Drawer Is Closed

If you have a First alert smoke alarm and the battery drawer is open or slightly deformed, it could be sending signals that there is a problem.

To check if the drawer is truly open, you can push it inwards and apply mild force. If the beep does not appear after 3-4 minutes, then the drawer is most likely not open.

If the First Alert smoke alarm drawer is not closing fully, you may be able to fix the beeping problem by applying pressure to tighten the enclosure.

If you cannot see any openings or deformation damage, move on to the next solution.

4. Clean The First Alert Smoke Alarm’s Battery Drawer

In case the First Alert smoke Alarm went off due to old or degraded battery, you’ll need to open the battery compartment once again, remove the batteries and clean the environment.

If the First Alert smoke alarm beeps due to old batteries, it’s possible that there’s some charge left over in the battery compartment. In order to fix this problem, you’ll need to open the battery door and remove the batteries.

Use a wet napkin to wipe out any residual charge in the compartment.

5. Do A Reset

To fix the 3-beeps malfunction warning, you’ll need to reset the device.

The First Alert smoke alarm reset simply requires deactivating and reactivating the device.

Here’s how to reset your First Alert smoke alarm:

1. Disconnect the unit from its power source.
2. Open the smoke alarm battery drawer.
3. Take the batteries out of the device.
4. Connect the smoke alarm unit to a power source again.
5. Hold the Smoke Alarm test button for 20-25 seconds.
6. Reinsert the batteries into their proper positions in the unit. Fully close the battery cover on the smoke detector unit.

If your First Alert smoke alarm is beeping, you can reset it and hopefully stop the noise. If the beeping continues every 3-4 minutes, there may be a problem with the alarm. You can check to see if the alarm is broken or not.

6. Hardware Issues

If your First Alert smoke alarm starts beeping every 3-4 minutes, it could mean a hardware malfunction. But in some cases, it may just be a glitch.

There are a few ways to tell if the First alert smoke alarm is broken. First, a hardware malfunction will cause the alarm to beep repeatedly.

If you start hearing the beeping, pause the alarm by pressing the test button. The beeping should stop after 3-4 minutes. If it doesn’t, then your alarm is broken and you’ll need a repair or replacement.

If your First Alert smoke alarm beeps 3 times after a new battery is installed, try replacing the battery first. If the issue persists, check to make sure that the battery drawer is sliding in and out easily and completely.

Final Thoughts

To ensure that your First Alert smoke alarm is working properly, simply change the batteries and then make sure to remove any space dividers or power cords that may be between the smoke detector and its power source.

Finally, press the reset button on the back of the smoke detector. If you are still having issues, make sure to contact an electrician for assistance.