Carbon monoxide detector beeping 5 times every 30 seconds

Several things may be causing your alarm(s) to sound or chirp. It's important to understand the different audible signals from your alarm.

Continuous Four-Beep Alarm Pattern

When the carbon monoxide (CO) alarm senses a dangerous level of carbon monoxide, the unit will emit a loud alarm pattern. The alarm pattern is four short beeps – followed by five seconds of silence – followed by four short beeps.*

• Your alarm may have detected carbon monoxide. Make sure that you know how to respond to a CO emergency.

• You may be experiencing a nuisance alarm. Follow the procedure for nuisance alarms.

*NOTE: When the unit is disconnected from the 120V power supply and on battery backup, the alarm pattern will continue for the first five minutes after detecting carbon monoxide and then the cycle will repeat every minute.

Consistent Chirping

Several things could cause an alarm to chirp according to a regular consistent pattern. For more information, go to what causes consistent chirping?

If you only hear one chirp every 30 seconds, this may indicate that your alarm has one of the following conditions:

• End-of-Life warning

• Low battery warning (see your user's manual for more details)

• Alarm malfunction

Random Intermittent Chirping

Several things could cause an alarm to sound briefly or chirp randomly without a regular pattern. For more information, go to what causes intermittent beeping or chirping?

One Long, Continuous Squeal

If you hear a long, continuous squeal, this may indicate that your alarm has one of the following conditions:

• Tamper-resist warning: this can be activated, causing the unit to go into alarm if it has been unplugged or has come loose from the outlet. (See your user's manual for more details.)

• Alarm malfunction

NOTE: For more information about your specific alarm, refer to your user’s manual.

Back to Support Center

My carbon monoxide alarm keeps beeping five times in a row. I assume that means something is wrong. What do five beeps mean on a carbon monoxide detector?

Answer provided by

We’re glad you’re on top of this—ignoring issues with your carbon monoxide detector can be life-threatening. Five beeps on a carbon monoxide alarm mean end of life, telling you it’s time to install a new alarm.

Five beeps at fifteen-minute intervals is a warning that your alarm is dying. Unlike a low battery warning (one chirp), this means the entire alarm needs to be replaced.

You should deal with this issue as soon as possible. If your carbon monoxide detector dies, you’re putting your life at risk. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, but can cause serious illness and death.

Once your carbon monoxide alarm is replaced, why not replace your homeowners insurance policy? The insurance broker Jerry can find you better coverage at a lower price.

Jerry gives its users a long list of insurance quotes, all from top providers. You can use these quotes to find the right homeowners policy for your needs in just a few minutes. Sign-up is free!

Browse More Content

What others are asking

Read advice from car experts at Jerry

Browse by topics

Car Insurance by Make

Car Insurance by State

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that is produced from fuel burning appliances, such as your furnace or generators. Having the proper amount of CO alarms installed in your house helps you achieve whole home protection for the safety of your family. However, it is important to be educated and know how your alarm communicates with you. There are several reasons as to why your carbon monoxide detector could be beeping or chirping. Learn what each type of chirp from a CO detector indicates so that you are prepared in the event of an emergency.

Different Types of Beeps and Chirps:

• 4 Beeps and a Pause: EMERGENCY. This means that carbon monoxide has been detected in the area, you should move to fresh air and call 9-1-1.
• 1 Beep Every Minute: Low Battery. It is time to replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector.
• 5 Beeps Every Minute: End of Life. This type of chirp indicates it is time to replace your carbon monoxide alarm.

What Does a Low Battery Beep From My Detector Mean?

Depending on the type of CO alarm you have, the battery life of the detector differs. It is important to check and test carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they are working, and ensure the battery is still good. There are also plug-in carbon monoxide detectors with a battery backup. These detectors provide you with continuous protection in the case of an emergency during a power outage. First Alert also offers alarms with 10-year sealed batteries that will last the life of the alarm.

What Does an End-of-Life Beep From My Detector Mean?

Most carbon monoxide alarms last between 5 and 7 years. Even if the battery is still good, all detectors should be replaced after 7 years. This is because the sensor in the detector will not work as well, and when it comes to detecting CO, you want an alarm with a high functioning sensor. However, with today’s technology, the 10-year battery powered CO alarm can provide a decade of detection.

It is required by the law to have working CO detectors in your home. Learn more about CO legislation in your state.

Carbon monoxide leaks can be scary because this gas is deadly. If you or your family show any symptoms of CO poisoning, get to fresh air immediately and call 9-1-1. However, with proper CO alarm coverage, your family will help be alerted to an emergency as soon as carbon monoxide is detected. Remember to regularly check and test your carbon monoxide alarms and replace the batteries when specified.

What does 5 beeps mean on a carbon monoxide detector?

Why is my carbon monoxide alarm beeping every 5 seconds?

What does it mean when my smoke detector chirps 5 times?

Why is my carbon monoxide detector beeping every 40 seconds?