Return to the Remodeling Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
Posted by norcalpeetnik (My Page) on Sat, Oct 24, 09 at 22:40
| Has anyone had this problem? We think that sometime during our remodel (which was 2-3 years ago) the contractor must have left a smoke detector in the crawlspace in between our 1st and 2nd floors, and the batteries are weak enough to cause beeping. We are hearing a faint beep every 45 seconds, and have checked all current smoke detectors and batteries, and we replaced all current detectors. We even disconnected power to the smoke detectors (they are hardwired) and the beeping continued. You can hear the noise outdoors next to the vent holes by the bedroom in question.
What do we do? Wait until the batteries die? It doesn't seem worth tearing up the ceiling to find the rogue smoke detector. But how long will we have to live with the beeping? Our contractor is coming out next week to discuss...help! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| Smoke detectors are not required nor are they (normally) installed in crawl spaces. Look for other sources of your 'beeping' like carbon monoxide detectors, batteries for security systems, warning signals for septic systems and the like... |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| "crawlspace in between our 1st and 2nd floors" How do you get a crawlspace above a first floor? Sounds like you mean a joist cavity. It was probably left there and forgotten during construction or remodeling. Someone did not want to be accused of stealing it, so they stuck it above the ceiling were the homeowner would not be likely to see and remove it. |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| It's like putting a fish in someone's car. You probably made someone really mad during construction. |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| Hey - drywall is not hard to fix. Go to local automotive parts store; purchase a low cost engine noise stethoscope. Now, listen to your ceiling, and determine the loudest area. Use a stud finder, and determine the celing area joists position. Using a jab saw, or a jig saw with a small blade; cut out area of drywall where the detector is located. Remove detector. Patch drywall. NOT hard at all. One of the easiest DIY jobs.... Drywall Books are readily available if you need one to start you out. Put new battery in detector; and determine where you are going to mount this unit to help increase house safety. |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| How about, after locating the device, make a tiny, easily repaired hole and blow smoke through it into the cavity, setting off the detector, the loud siren will drain the batteries more quickly, silencing it for good. How quickly is the kicker - it might be weeks! Just a thought. Do corroding batteries pose a fire hazard? |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| PROBLEM SOLVED!!!! Our contractor (who was very skeptical that there was something in the ceiling) came out today and took off the light fixture in the center of the ceiling. Sure enough the beeping came though the hole loud and clear so they knew something was up there. Luckily it was within reach of the opening, so they didn't need to make any other holes. One of the workers must have set it down during demo and forgotten about it. He said he had never had that happen before. Thanks for all your help and suggestions! My house is quiet once again - bliss.... |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| And just WHAT was it that was doing all that beeping? You never identified the source of the noise in your latest post, and now have thousands of us readers sitting on the edge of our seats in anticipation! |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| Manhattan, a smoke alarm was left above the ceiling during a remodel. There was a thread elsewhere...wiring forum, I think. |
RE: Smoke Detector Left in Crawlspace???
| | |
| Sorry Manhattan (thanks Homebound!). It was indeed a leftover smoke detector from before the remodel. The batteries had run out and it was doing the customary chirp to tell us to change the batteries. But it was left in the ceiling by the contractor by accident, so it drove us crazy trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. |
|
|
|
|
