visibilityHow to tell a chirp from an alarm
report If it's the steady alarm, do not troubleshoot — leaveNever try to diagnose a sounding CO alarm from inside the home. If it's the loud, repeating alarm, or anyone feels unwell, get everyone and pets outside into fresh air and call 911. Only an intermittent chirp, with no one feeling ill, is safe to investigate — and even then, when in doubt, get out.
- From a safe spot, listen to the pattern. A single short chirp every 30–60 seconds is a low-battery or fault warning.
- A CO alarm is loud and continuous or repeats a set of four quick beeps over and over — if that's what you hear, stop reading and get out.
- Only if it's the intermittent chirp (and no one feels unwell) is it safe to change the battery or check the alarm's date.
buildAucun outil schedule2 min
handymanHow to fix it
Once you've confirmed it's a low-battery chirp (not the alarm) and no one feels unwell, replace the battery with the exact type marked on the unit and press Test.
- Confirm it's the intermittent chirp and that no one has symptoms — otherwise leave and call 911.
- Open the battery compartment and fit a fresh battery of the exact type printed on the alarm.
- Close it, remount, and hold Test until it sounds. If it keeps chirping with a fresh battery, check the date — it may be at end of life.
schedule5 min savings$4–12
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Replacing a CO alarm battery is homeowner maintenance. Finding/repairing a CO source is licensed HVAC/gas work in every province.