Smoke Alarm Troubleshooting Guides
SMOKE ALARM TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
General troubleshooting guide for smoke alarms from MATelec Australia
TRIGGERED ALARMS
TRIGGERED ALARMS
If your MATelec Australia Smoke Alarm is triggered, follow these steps to identify the cause and return it to normal operation.
- 1
Identify the Source of the Triggered Alarm
- Check first for any signs of smoke or fire.
- If there’s any danger, evacuate immediately and call Triple Zero (000).
- Only continue troubleshooting once you’ve confirmed the area is safe.
- 2
Identify Which Smoke Alarm Was Triggered
This indicates the alarm that was triggered. In interconnected systems, only the alarm that was triggered will display this flashing pattern.
- 3
Silence the Alarm
This will silence that alarm, while any interconnected alarms will continue sounding for around 10 seconds before they stop.
HUSH mode on DET-SMK/AC/1, /10 and RF/AC/1/10 Smoke Alarms
Using HUSH mode and locating triggered alarms on MATelec DET-SMK/AC/1, /10 and RF/AC/1/10 Smoke Alarms
HUSH mode on FSA-30000 Smoke Alarms
Using HUSH mode on MATelec FSA-30000 Smoke Alarms
COMMON CAUSES
COMMON CAUSES OF A TRIGGERED SMOKE ALARM
Because smoke alarms detect very small particles in the air, they can sometimes activate for reasons other than smoke. If your alarm has activated without an obvious cause, the list below can help you identify what may have triggered it.
ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
Possible Causes | Explanation | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
Dust or insects inside the alarm | Dust, debris or small insects can enter the alarm sensor and cause a false alarm. | Clean and vacuum around each smoke alarm regularly. |
Steam from bathrooms or laundries | Steam contains tiny airborne particles that smoke alarms can detect, which may cause a false alarm. | Avoid installing smoke alarms inside or directly outside bathrooms or laundries. |
High humidity or condensation | Moisture can build up in the alarm sensing chamber and trigger the alarm. | Ensure your home is well ventilated to reduce humidity. |
Cooking fumes | Smoke alarms installed too close to kitchens may be triggered by cooking vapours. | Install alarms at least 5 metres from cooking appliances. |
Strong air movement | Airflow from fans or air conditioning can disturb the alarm sensor causing a false alarm. | Avoid installing smoke alarms near ceiling fans or vents. |
INTERCONNECTION AND POWER ISSUES
Issue | Possible Causes | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
Interconnected alarms not responding together | The alarms may not have been paired correctly on wireless models. | Refer to the pairing instructions for your specific smoke alarm model or watch our Smokie Tutorial Videos on pairing. |
Smoke alarm keeps sounding or will not reset | There may be residual dust or moisture inside the alarm sensor chamber. | Clean your smoke alarms regularly. |
High humidity or condensation | Moisture can build up in the alarm sensing chamber and trigger the alarm. | Ensure your home is well ventilated to reduce humidity. |
Hardwired smoke alarm not operating | The wiring may be loose, faulty or incorrectly connected. | Contact a licensed electrician to inspect and correct the wiring. |
Power interruptions or voltage fluctuations can cause momentary alerts. | The alarm will reset automatically once power stabilises. If the issue continues, have a licensed electrician check the circuit. |
ALARM CHIRPING
MY SMOKE ALARM IS CHIRPING
Your MATelec Smoke Alarm may chirp to let you know it needs attention. Use the guide below to identify what the sound means and what to do next. For more detailed support, watch the Smokie Tutorial Videos or visit the troubleshooting page for your specific model.
Alert Type | DET-SMK/AC/1 & /10 | DET-SMK/RF/AC/1 & /10 | FSA-30000 |
|---|---|---|---|
Normal Operation | Red LED flashes once every 48 seconds | Red LED flashes once every 48 seconds | Red LED flashes once every 40 seconds |
Normal Operation (Hardwired) | A continuous green LED | A continuous green LED | |
Alarm Triggered | Red LED flashes once every second & alarm sounds | Red LED flashes once every second & alarm sounds | Red LED flashes once every second & alarm sounds |
Low Battery | One chirp & red LED flashes once every 48 seconds | One chirp & red LED flashes once every 48 seconds | One chirp and red LED flashes every 40 seconds |
Alarm Fault Signal | Two chirps & red LED flashes twice every 48 seconds | Two chirps & red LED flashes twice every 48 seconds | One chirp every 40 seconds with no LED flash |
Alarm End of Life Signal | One chirp & red LED flashes twice every 48 seconds | One chirp & red LED flashes twice every 48 seconds | |
Triggered Alarm Signal | Red LED flashes twice every 24 seconds for up to one week | Red LED flashes twice every 24 seconds for up to one week | Red LED flashes twice every 20 seconds for up to 72 hours |
Triggered Alarm Signal in Interconnected setup | Red LED flashes once every 24 seconds for up to one week | Red LED flashes once every 24 seconds for up to one week | Alarm beeps twice every second with no LED flashing |
No Interconnection (wireless & wired) | Red LED flashes twice every 8 seconds for 5 minutes |
