Carbon monoxide detector beeping 4 times every 30 seconds

We install carbon monoxide detectors in our homes to prevent the worst from happening. But like any other insurance protector we use or install, we hope we never use it. 

So what do you do when your carbon monoxide detector starts beeping?

Determine what the beep is

Like a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector will warn you when the battery is low. You’ll likely hear short chirps every minute or so, letting you know it’s time to replace your batteries. 

Carbon monoxide detector beeping 4 times every 30 seconds

Most carbon monoxide detectors will beep 4 or 5 times in a row every few seconds, and continue the process nonstop. Don’t ignore the beep thinking it’s a low battery. If there is any question, get everyone outside to fresh air. 

Get out of the building

The first and most important step is to leave the area immediately. Carbon monoxide can quickly impact your health, so it’s important to get to safety as quickly as possible. Symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Confusion
  • Low blood pressure
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Chest pain
  • Nausea

Pets often react faster to the symptoms than a human does. If they become weak or unresponsive, quick action should be taken. 

Call in emergency services

As soon as you and your family are safe, call in emergency services say the health experts at CAHI.org. This includes getting your pets to safety as well as all family members. 

Get a complete carbon monoxide inspection

Once your home is safe, be sure to have a complete inspection performed on your home to ensure all carbon monoxide producing appliances are safe and secure. These include things like:

  • Furnace
  • Chimneys
  • Fireplaces
  • Wood burning stoves
  • Generators
  • Central heating systems
  • Boilers
  • Gas appliances

Fix and repair any appliance that isn’t working properly. Also take precautions to avoid other carbon monoxide activities in and near your home, such as smoking, leaving the car idling in the garage, or using a barbeque grill to close too close to doors and windows. 

Test

Don’t forget to test your carbon monoxide detector on a regular basis. Test them once a month, and replace the batteries once a year. 

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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.

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What does 4 beeps on a carbon monoxide detector mean?

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.

Do all carbon monoxide detectors beep 4 times?

To warn of dangerous CO levels, most detectors will beep 4 or 5 times in a row about every 4 seconds. Do not mistake dangerous levels of poisonous gas for a detector with low battery!

Why is my carbon monoxide detector beeping every 40 seconds?

Low Battery – The alarm will chirp every 30-40 seconds (every 60 seconds for some alarms) for a minimum of seven days. Replace the battery when this occurs, then test your alarm.

What does it mean when your carbon monoxide beeps 5 times?

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.