If your first alert smoke detector is blinking red, it can be a cause for concern. Learn what it means and how to resolve it to prevent a problem in the future.
First alert smoke detectors are designed to help protect families and businesses from fires. They are simple devices that use static and blinking lights to indicate whether they need maintenance, replacement, or repair.
Low battery
If your first alert smoke detector is blinking red, it may be trying to warn you that the batteries are low. It’s important to check the battery and replace it when necessary.
If you’re not sure what the problem is, check your manual or call the manufacturer to get clarity. You can also test your alarm once a month to make sure it’s working correctly.
Some hard-wired smoke detectors have power indication lights to let you know when they are receiving power. This is especially true when your home has been impacted by a power outage.
When your battery-powered detector receives power, it will flash a green light. This is part of a process that helps it gather energy from your home’s alternating current (AC) source, then convert the stored energy to battery-operated power.
Blinking the green light can be confusing for some homeowners, so it’s helpful to understand what it means. If it blinks more frequently or erratically, this could mean your battery is low or there’s an electronic glitch.
False alarm
False alarms are a pain to deal with, and can cause your family’s safety to suffer. That’s why it’s important to understand the reasons behind false fire alarms and how to avoid them.
Smoke detectors are designed to alert you of a potential fire before it even starts. They emit a constant electric current to a sensor, which is triggered when smoke obscures the current.
Some smoke detectors use ionization technology to detect smoke particles and other compounds. This type of smoke detector can be triggered by dust, cigarette smoke or other contaminants that block the flow of electricity to the sensor.
Whether you have an ionization smoke detector or another type of fire alarm, clean out the vents with a pressurized air can once a year to help eliminate the possibility of false alarms. If this doesn’t work, replace the smoke detector or consider upgrading to a photoelectric smoke detector.
Dust in the air
If you see a blinking red light on your first alert smoke alarm, it could mean that dust particles are inside the sensor. This can be an indicator that it needs to be cleaned out, which can help prevent a false alarm or fire in your home.
Indoor dust is made up of matter like animal hair, pet dander, textile fibers, paper fibers, human skin cells, and food particles. In addition, 60% of household dust comes from outside contaminants, including pollen, soil, particulate matter from smoking, and other airborne pollutants.
Airborne particles can irritate the respiratory tract, contribute to health problems and impact indoor air quality. Depending on the type and size of the particles, they can trigger allergies or lead to other health conditions such as asthma.
Reset
If the red blinking light on your first alert smoke alarm is flashing nonstop, it could be a sign of something more serious. This could be a power outage, low battery, or a weak or missing signal.
If it’s a battery-powered device, changing the batteries should fix the problem. Most smoke detectors emit a low-battery chirp or beep and flashing red light when the batteries are about to die.
A smoke detector with a blinking red light also might indicate that dust is getting in the way of the sensor. Check the detector’s manual for more information on this indicator.
If you have a hard-wired First Alert smoke detector, look for a reset button that will allow you to manually turn off the alarm. The reset button should be located on a keypad or inside the smoke detector itself. Press it and hold for about 20 seconds to reset the alarm. This will clear out any remaining charge from the battery and return your alarm to its normal functionality.