Random chirping from smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Hello gang, it's nice to see the board coming back to life now that cold weather is here!

I got the Harman insert going a while back for the year and ran into an interesting problem. I am getting random chirps from my smoke detector. I've replaced the batteries can't figure out what could be causing the chirps. I read the back of the carbon monoxide detector and found out that they have a shelf life and that mine is three years old, could it need replacement already?

The insert is a Harman Magana Fire that was professionally installed and has a great draft and I checked the tightness of the door gaskets with a dollar bill all the way around the doors before the first fire and although the gaskets are starting to flatten out, I could not pull the dollar out anywhere around the doors. We had to leave for the holiday and the fire had gone out by the time I returned; yesterday when I was restarting the fire and the stove was coming up to temp I noticed a odor of burning coal so I pulled the surround panel off and checked the flue pipe to stove connection and it looked secure at the joint and the sealant at the joint was all there with no cracks. As the stove came up to operating temp (350° or so) the smell went away. The stove has never been over-fired (it's always been run below 450°) and the only possible way that I can see for any gasses to escape the fire box is through a 3" "plug" in the heat exchanger that must have been used in the manufacturing process that appears to be pressed in and not welded.

Anybody have any ideas or can think of something that I may have overlooked?

About 2 weeks ago my smoke /co detector was chirping and I changed the batteries. About 3 days later it started again. I replaced it and the new one has been fine ever since . The old one was 5 years old. Chris

I am getting random chirps from my smoke detector.

I had one that did that and the only way I solved it was to replace it.

Kevin

What model detector is it?

Yep, me & Kevin both on that replacement deal. Ya only want to mess with them for so long to determine, something just ain't right. Better safe then sorry.

Many CO detectors have a sensor that is only reliable for 5 years, some for 7. After that they should be replaced.

Just yesterday I was at Home Depot and picked up 2 sets, one for basement and one for upstairs.It was a Kidde- Explosive Gas/Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Alarm Value Pack for $29.95. It has a digital display for c/o

I know that detectors do have a limit to their life span. But recently I had the problem of the intermittent chirping. I changed the battery and thought that solved the problem. In a few days the chirping came back. I pulled out the user information and found it was recommended that I blow the dust out if that happens. So that's what I did and it solved the problem.

question???? does wal mart sell co detect....or where is the best place to git one???

bb, I got mine at LOWES, but I suspect Wally World would have them & like Dennis said Home Depot.

tks.fred lowes is closer than hd.

freetown fred wrote:bb, I got mine at LOWES, but I suspect Wally World would have them & like Dennis said Home Depot.

From the "Kidde Help Center"

In accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Kidde recommends replacing smoke and heat alarms every ten years, and replacing carbon monoxide and combination alarms every seven years to benefit from the latest technology upgrades.
If you are unsure of your alarm’s age, look for the manufactured date on the back of the alarm.

a little late to the party, but try blowing the dust off it. I would also recommend getting a new digital display model. you will get a low numeric reading before the alarm would sound and I feel it is better to catch it as early as possible.

After double checking everything, it turned out that the "new" batteries were not quite new as they were supposed to be since my volt meter showed them having low voltage. I also forgot about the smoke detector in the stairwell that also needed a new battery. After checking and replacing batteries, the carbon monoxide detector was throwing the random chirp so off to Lowes I went. Picked up a new detector and all is now quiet. I guess the old one was no longer usable since the I haven't heard a thing from the new.