Q. Why does my smoke alarm go into alarm when I can't see smoke?
A. Any of these situations can cause unwanted alarms:

Smoke alarm may need to be relocated.
Install smoke alarms at least 20 feet from appliances like furnaces and ovens, which produce combustion particles. Alarms should be at least 10 feet from high humidity areas like showers and laundry rooms, and at least 3 feet from heat/AC vents whenever possible.

Cover or sensor chamber is covered by dust or dirt.
Alarms may look clean, but dust can accumulate inside the cover, even in newly built homes. Gently vacuum smoke alarms regularly using the soft brush attachment.

Insects covered or clogged the sensor chamber.
Clean the smoke alarm with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum. To prevent repeat problems, clean and treat the surrounding area with insect repellent (DO NOT SPRAY THE SMOKE ALARM). 

Alarm was triggered from another part of the home.
In a system of interconnected AC or AC/DC alarms, the unit triggering the alarm is in another part of the home - smoke may be present, but you can't see it.

Power interruptions to AC/DC smoke alarms.
These smoke alarms may alarm briefly when power is interrupted, then restored. Power interruptions are common in areas where utility companies switch grids in the early hours of the morning.

A loose electrical connection on AC or AC/DC smoke alarms.
In AC or AC/DC smoke alarms, loose connections can intermittently disconnect power to the smoke alarm. The effect is the same as a power failure. When power is restored, the units may alarm briefly.

Q. Why do smoke alarms chirp intermittently?
A. The same factors that cause unwanted alarms can cause intermittent alarms. Dust, insects, and power interruptions. See previous question for more details. The "chirp" may also be caused by:

Low battery.
As the battery in a smoke alarm becomes weak, the smoke alarm will "chirp" about once a minute to alert you that the battery needs to be replaced.

A different device or appliance.
Security systems, monitors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other devices have similar low battery or alert signals.

Q. Why won't a smoke alarm sound when I push the test button?
A: Try the following before assuming the alarm is not responding:

Make sure you didn't accidentally press the silence button. (Model 4120SB; or any model with a silence feature).
You may have accidentally pushed the silence button, which temporarily disables the test function. You an tell the unit is in silence mode if the red light is flashing rapidly, and the alarm "chirps" about once a minute for up to 15 minutes. The test function will return to normal when the smoke alarm is no longer in silence mode.

Hold the test button down longer.
Try holding the test button down for up to 10 seconds (20 seconds on photoelectric models.)

Check the power supply.
Make sure the battery is installed properly and snapped all the way in place. Even if the alarm sounded briefly when the battery touched the terminals, you still need to make sure it is snapped securely in place. If the battery is loose, in cannot power the smoke alarm properly.

Make sure the AC power is on.
AC and AC/DC units will have a power indicator light (red or green) that shines continuously when they are receiving electrical power.

10-Year Models ONLY (4010YR or SA10YR):
The smoke alarm may not have been properly activated. If the tab broke away before the alarm was activated, you can use a toothpick to move the switch over to activate the alarm.

Q. Why does the alarm sound when I install a battery or turn
on the AC power?
A. It is normal for the smoke alarms to sound briefly (up to 5-10 seconds) when they are powered up. If the alarm continues to sound and no smoke is present, the cause may be:

Insufficient battery or AC power.
Very low batteries or insufficient electrical power (brown out) may cause a continuous weak sounding alarm. For DC models, change the battery (DC). For AC or AC/DC models, temporarily disconnect power at the service panel until the brown out is over. If you do not restore the AC power, your smoke alarms cannot warn you of a fire.

Incompatible warning device.
If an incompatible alarm or auxiliary device is linked into a series of AC or AC/DC smoke alarms it may cause the system to alarm.

Q. Can I interconnect smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms?
A. Only BRK CO alarms with a "smart interconnect" can be interconnected with smoke and heat alarms. The smart interconnect sends a unique signal for smoke and CO alarms on one interconnect wire. With non-smart interconnect CO products, no electrical hazard is associated with such a connection of CO and smoke alarms. However, homeowner confusion can arise when an alarm condition exists when these two devices are interconnected as they have different horn patterns. In addition, the homeowner's response to fire or CO hazards usually requires opposite reactions. In a fire, the homeowner needs to exit the building immediately. In a CO condition the homeowner should shut off appliances and open the windows before leaving the building. Mistakenly identifying what condition caused the alarm can have tragic results. For example, if a fire actually caused the alarm condition and it is mistaken for a CO condition, opening windows and turning off appliances can actually feed the fire and cause the homeowner to be in the building for precious extra minutes they may not have. Conversely, if a CO condition is what initially caused the alarm, and the homeowner believes a fire condition exists and no fire is found, they could succumb to CO poisoning by remaining in the building. It is for these reasons that smoke alarms and carbon monozide alarms should not be interconnected in a residential application unless the CO alarms have a smart interconnect feature.

It is important to remember that responding to a fire and responding to a CO condition usually require the opposite reaction. In a fire, residents should evacuate the building immediately and call 911 or the Fire Department. In a CO condition - unless residents are feeling symptoms of CO poisoning - they are advised to shut off fuel-burning appliances and open the windows before leaving the building and calling a qualified service technician to correct the problem.

Consider these examples: A fire starts in a basement, and all interconnected alarms sound. The homeowner, who is closer to a CO alarm interconnected in the series, mistakenly assumes the alarm was caused by a CO condition. Precious time could be wasted as the residents respond to what they think is a CO condition, instead of evacuating a burning building. In fact, correct responses to a CO condition - like opening windows and doors - can actually feed a fire and make the situation worse!

Conversely, assume a heat exchange on the furnace breaks, causing CO levels to elevate at a dangerous rate. A homeowner who hears a smoke alarm first may assume the home is on fire. If residents do not see smoke and assume it was a false alarm, the entire family could succumb to CO poisoning by remaining in the home.

To help minimize any confusion during an alarm it is recommended that smoke and CO alarms NOT be interconnected.

Q. How many smoke alarms can be interconnected?
A. The maximum number of smoke alarms that should be interconnected per Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) standards is 12.

Always make sure the smoke alarms you are interconnecting are compatible. In addition to the 12 smoke alarms in the series, you can connect up to 6 compatible devices like door closers, bells, or lights.

Q. Why do I hear the low battery "chirp" if the battery is new?
A. Any of these situations can cause a low battery chirp:

Does your smoke alarm have a silence button?
If so, the button may have been pressed by mistake. The alarm will now "chirp" once a minute for up to 15 minutes.

Are you sure it's the smoke alarm?
Other devices have similar low battery chirps or warning tones.

Even "new" batteries may not be fresh.
If batteries are stored, especially in cold areas like refrigerators, they lose their charge more quickly. Always check the freshness date on the package when buying new batteries.

Q. What replacement batteries can I use?
A. Check your User's Manual or the label on the back of the alarm.
Never use rechargeable batteries.

Q. Why can't I use rechargeable batteries?
A. Check your User's Manual or the label on the back of the alarm. Never use rechargeable batteries because they do not always provide a consistent charge.

Q. What is the difference between Photoelectric and Ionization and Photoelectric smoke alarms?
A: Ionization Smoke Alarms - Generally more effective at detecting flaming fires, which consume combustibles quickly and spread rapidly. Sources of these fires include paper burning in a wastebasket, or grease fires on a stove.

A: Photoelectric Smoke Alarms - Generally more effective at detecting smoldering fires, which smolder for hours before bursting into flame. Sources of the fires include cigarette smoldering in couches or bedding.

For maximum protection, install both types of smoke alarms on every level of the home.

Q. I lost my User's Manual. Can I get a new one?
A. You can obtain a replacement manual in two ways:

We will gladly send you a replacement user's manual or equivalent instructions.
Please have the model number handy when requesting a replacement manual.

Current user's manuals are being posted for download on this website.
We will be making copies of current manuals available in Acrobat pdf format for you to download. Check the Download section to see what's currently available.

Q. Why does the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend that home smoke alarms be replaced after 10 years?
A. Like all devices with electronic components, smoke alarms have a limited effective service life.

As electronic devices, smoke alarms are subject to random failures. In 10 years there is roughly a 30% probability of failure before replacement. After 15 years, the chances are better than 50/50 that your alarm has failed. That is too big a risk to take. Replacing alarms after 10 years protects against the accumulated chance of failure, but monthly testing is still your first, best means of making sure your alarm will work.

Q. What are my options for a 10-year smoke alarm?
A. "10-year smoke alarms" are available, which feature extended life batteries or power cells designed to provide up to 10 years of service without battery changes.

Regardless of the manufacturer's suggested battery life, it is important to replace batteries (or smoke alarm) as soon as the low battery alert is activated! Many factors, including temperature, installation location, and how well smoke alarms are cleaned and maintained, can shorten battery (or smoke alarm) life.

BRK Electronics® Model 4010YR Smoke Alarm.
The Model 4010YR has three non-removable Lithium power cells sealed into the smoke alarm. This makes the unit tamper-proof. Once the power cells are activated, they can provide up to 10 years of continuous service. Since they are power cells - not traditional batteries - they cannot be used in other battery-powered devices, which deters unauthorized removal. Once the power cells become weak, the smoke alarm must be replaced.

Long-life lithium batteries.
Some manufacturers offer long-life 9-volt Lithium batteries, which are designed to last in standard smoke alarm applications for up to 10 years. These can be used in most battery powered and AC/DC smoke alarms.

If the information you need is not covered in the questions and answers above,
please call us at 1-800-323-9005.