Understanding Your Smoke Alarm

We all know that smoke alarms are there to keep us safe, but they can sometimes go off when we’re just cooking dinner. Knowing how to properly use, test, and hush your alarm can help you stay safe and avoid unnecessary stress. Let’s break down how to understand your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, including what different beeps and lights mean.

When Your Alarm Goes Off

Your alarm is designed to alert you in case of smoke or carbon monoxide. Here’s what you’ll hear:

• Smoke alarm (fire): Three loud beeps (“beep-beep-beep”), voice message “Fire!”, then another three beeps, repeating. The red light will blink in time with the alarm and the strobe light will flash every second.

• Carbon monoxide alarm: Four quick beeps, voice message “Warning! Carbon Monoxide,” repeating every 5 seconds. The red light blinks along with the beeps, and the strobe flashes 4 times every 5 seconds.

If the alarm sounds, always assume it’s real unless you know for certain it is a false alarm.

Hushing the Alarm During Cooking

Cooking can sometimes cause false alarms, especially when using high heat. To temporarily silence a nuisance alarm:

1. Press the Test/Hush® button (the large dome button on your alarm).

2. You’ll hear “Hush® Mode Activated.” The alarm will silence for 8 to 10 minutes.

3. If smoke levels remain high, the alarm may sound again after this period.

4. Note: If the smoke is too dense, the alarm will not hush and will keep sounding for your safety.

Testing Your Alarm - This Should be done at least once per month!

As your landlord, we take our responsibilities very seriously, especially when it comes to your safety. Fire safety is a top priority, which is why we ensure that all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are tested annually, after every change of tenancy, following any battery replacements, and whenever electrical work is done on the alarm circuit.

However, it’s also important to remember that you play a crucial role in keeping your home safe — you should be testing your alarms at least once per month to make sure they are working properly:

1. Stand about 2.5 feet away (the alarm is loud!).

2. Press and quickly release the Test/Hush® button.

3. The alarm will run through a sequence: you’ll hear a quick beep to confirm, then the voice will say “Testing, this is very loud,” followed by fire and CO alarm patterns.

4. The strobe light and voice will also activate during this test.

Never use open flame or actual smoke to test the alarm — this can damage the unit.

If you think there is any challenge with your smoke alarm please contact us so that we can investigate and resolve this challenge.

What Do Different Beeps and Lights Mean?

• Normal operation: Green light on continuously (or blinks every 60 seconds in dark rooms).

• Low battery: Amber light blinks every 5 seconds, chirp every 60 seconds, voice says “Replace alarm.” Replace the unit as soon as possible.

• End of life: Double chirp every 30 seconds with voice message “Replace alarm.” This means the alarm needs to be replaced.

• Fault/Error: Chirp every 30 seconds, voice message “Error, see troubleshooting guide.” You can press the Test/Hush® button to attempt a reset.

• Memory of a past alarm: Red and amber lights alternate every second (after a previous smoke or CO event). Press the Test/Hush® button to clear.

A Few Extra Safety Tips

✔ Teach everyone in your home what the alarm sounds mean.✔ Practice your escape plan regularly.✔ Never ignore a sounding alarm — always check and leave immediately if needed.

Download and review the full Smoke Alarm Manual here

Smoke Alarm Manual.pdf

Download PDF • 1.30MB

For more details on your specific alarm model, you can : [Download Here]