Maintaining Your Smoke Alarm

• Smoke Alarm Policy
• How do I keep a battery-powered smoke alarm in good working order?
• Changing the battery
• Why does a red light flash now and again on the smoke alarm cover?
• Why does my smoke alarm bleep a couple of times then stop?
• I have replaced the battery and the smoke alarm still isn't working

Smoke Alarm Policy

Landlords are not legally obliged to fit smoke alarms to their properties. However, it is our policy to install and maintain smoke alarms to ensure the safety of our tenants. Most Council homes have battery-powered smoke alarms.

When we carry out a full electrical rewiring of a Council home, we will connect a mains-powered smoke alarm and issue you with the manufacturers maintenance instructions. Never interfere with this wiring.

Both battery-powered alarms and mains-powered alarms last for ten years. If you do not have an alarm please contact us immediately.

How do I keep a battery-powered smoke alarm in good working order?

• Make sure that your smoke alarm is free of dust and cobwebs. You can do this by gently dusting or vacuuming it regularly.
• Test your smoke alarm once a week to check it is in good working order. This is done by pushing in the button on the case of the smoke alarm until it bleeps. If it does not bleep change the battery immediately.

It is the tenant's responsibility to replace smoke alarm batteries.

Changing the battery

• Read the smoke alarm cover to find out if it is a screw or hinge type.
• Carefully remove the cover.
• Remove the old battery and check for dust and cobwebs.
• Replace with a new battery immediately and close the cover.
• Push the button on the cover until it bleeps to test that the smoke alarm is working properly.

Why does a red light flash now and again on the smoke alarm cover?

The smoke alarm has a built in sensor that checks the room for smoke/heat.

Why does my smoke alarm sometimes bleep a couple of times then stop?

If the smoke alarm sometimes bleeps a couple of times then stops, it is telling you that the battery needs replacing.

The longer you leave it the more often it will bleep until the battery completely runs down. When this happens the smoke alarm will not work.

Do not remove the old battery without replacing it immediately with a new on. It is your responsibility to change the battery.

I have replaced the battery and the smoke alarm still isn't working?

• Make sure that you have not installed the old battery instead of the new one accidentally.
• Ensure that you have installed the battery the right way round and that it is seated correctly inside the unit's battery compartment.
• Check there is no dust or cobwebs inside the battery compartment.
• After checking the above, if it is still not working and the smoke alarm belongs to the Council, please contact us and request a repair.

Page last reviewed 1 March 2012