I'd call the manufacturer. If they are still under warranty, they will send you a new one for free. I've had this problem with smoke detectors I bought last year, and it is maddening.

Anonymous wrote:You can call your local fire station. Google the number. They will come out.

To inspect or to install a new one?

99% sure whoever installed your smoke detectors used the batteries that came with the smoke detectors. They're crappy and old. Replace them with Duracells and the problem ends.

Replace it

It is rare to see such a strong consensus across DCUM on...anything!

I can’t even remember why I once called the customer service number on one of my smoke detectors, but they sent me a new one for free.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get the model number and buy a replacement on Amazon. It will probably be here tomorrow. Just not worth futzing with.

The biggest issue will be deciding whether to dispose of it properly or just chucking it in the trash when you find out the hazardous waste collection event won't take them.

If it's spiders or humidity, the same thing will happen again if you stick to the same brand. If it's dust, it will happen again in a year or two.

Many say to vacuum annually.

Brand-new units are also a crap shoot.

If it's dust from the original construction you won't have that problem again.

Anonymous wrote:OP it is not literally hardwired into your ceiling. Please do not call a contractor/handyman. They will laugh all the way to the bank.

This. Wired just means it runs on house power and not battery. The base of the unit serves as kind of an outlet and you plug in a new detector almost the way you plug in a lamp.

I would try cleaning it with compressed air

Look at the smoke detector. Get brand and model.
Order one from manufacturer or Home Depot.
Make electrician appointment to get it installed.
You will pay for a 30 min call but it's pushing the ea$y button.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get the model number and buy a replacement on Amazon. It will probably be here tomorrow. Just not worth futzing with.

The biggest issue will be deciding whether to dispose of it properly or just chucking it in the trash when you find out the hazardous waste collection event won't take them.

Yep this - even the hardwired ones are super easy to change out. It’s all just plug and play. We had the same thing happen with our new construction home about a year in.

PP. This is true. It is not electrical wiring unless you change the brand.

You do need to have a compatible, not-cracked trim ring.

I am the person who posted the long explanation above. I have never wired anything.

But I've been frightened out of my wits with small kids at home and middle of the night false alarms before.

I believe my issues are spiders and humidity.

Our false alarms are usually the corner of master bedroom alarm in summer. When it's humid. In the middle of the night. New and old alarms. Now we crack the door a couple inches.

Be the master of your fate and do some diagnosis or overpay and likely have the issue repeat.

I recommend talking alarms that say "Fire" or "CO2".

If you can't see or smell fire, but "Fire" is the message, it helps your reaction/planning speed

Get nest or something similar. They will tell you 'smoke in the master bedroom' or 'CO2 in the garage' The alerts also come to your phone. If they have an error, instead of the chirp, you get a push notification to your phone with the actual problem

PP. That would be overkill for my small house. I also don't trust those Nest devices. I've known people whose thermostats shut off for updates in the middle of the night or turned the house temp down because they went to dinner at a friends house. And you can't have your phone off or away from you.

Can the sensor explain spiders and humidity false alarms?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get the model number and buy a replacement on Amazon. It will probably be here tomorrow. Just not worth futzing with.

The biggest issue will be deciding whether to dispose of it properly or just chucking it in the trash when you find out the hazardous waste collection event won't take them.

Yep this - even the hardwired ones are super easy to change out. It’s all just plug and play. We had the same thing happen with our new construction home about a year in.

PP. This is true. It is not electrical wiring unless you change the brand.

You do need to have a compatible, not-cracked trim ring.

I am the person who posted the long explanation above. I have never wired anything.

But I've been frightened out of my wits with small kids at home and middle of the night false alarms before.

I believe my issues are spiders and humidity.

Our false alarms are usually the corner of master bedroom alarm in summer. When it's humid. In the middle of the night. New and old alarms. Now we crack the door a couple inches.

Be the master of your fate and do some diagnosis or overpay and likely have the issue repeat.

I recommend talking alarms that say "Fire" or "CO2".

If you can't see or smell fire, but "Fire" is the message, it helps your reaction/planning speed

Get nest or something similar. They will tell you 'smoke in the master bedroom' or 'CO2 in the garage' The alerts also come to your phone. If they have an error, instead of the chirp, you get a push notification to your phone with the actual problem

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get the model number and buy a replacement on Amazon. It will probably be here tomorrow. Just not worth futzing with.

The biggest issue will be deciding whether to dispose of it properly or just chucking it in the trash when you find out the hazardous waste collection event won't take them.

Yep this - even the hardwired ones are super easy to change out. It’s all just plug and play. We had the same thing happen with our new construction home about a year in.

PP. This is true. It is not electrical wiring unless you change the brand.

You do need to have a compatible, not-cracked trim ring.

I am the person who posted the long explanation above. I have never wired anything.

But I've been frightened out of my wits with small kids at home and middle of the night false alarms before.

I believe my issues are spiders and humidity.

Our false alarms are usually the corner of master bedroom alarm in summer. When it's humid. In the middle of the night. New and old alarms. Now we crack the door a couple inches.

Be the master of your fate and do some diagnosis or overpay and likely have the issue repeat.

I recommend talking alarms that say "Fire" or "CO2".

If you can't see or smell fire, but "Fire" is the message, it helps your reaction/planning speed