How to take battery out of first alert smoke detector

The First Alert BRK smoke detector is wired directly into your home’s electrical system. These mechanisms come with a battery backup, as well as a mute button. The battery backup ensures the warning system works, even if the power is out. The mute features can silence nuisance or unneeded alarms created by shower steam or cooking smoke.

There is no question these modern, innovative alarms are ideal for protecting your family and home. However, the quandary of how to change the battery comes up often. Many homeowners wonder how to ensure the battery backup power continues working if the unit is hardwired into their home’s electrical system. As a result, they may call in the pros a few times each year to take care of this process.

While the team at Teague Security has no problem helping you out with routine battery changes, this is a job you can handle on your own. Here you will find a quick tutorial and step-by-step guide to easily and quickly ensure your batteries continue to work without fail.

Step 1: Remove the Smoke Alarm from the Mounting Bracket

The first step is to remove the smoke alarm from the mounting bracket. If the unit is locked onto the bracket, you will have to deactivate the bracket lock.

Step 1a: Deactivate the Bracket Lock

• Use a flathead screwdriver and place it in between the unit’s mounting bracket and the mounting bracket pin.
• You can remove the smoke alarm from the mounting bracket by turning the alarm and the screwdriver left (counterclockwise) at the same time.

Step 2: Remove the Locking Pin

Use the flathead screwdriver to remove the pin from the battery compartment lock. (If you are planning to relock the compartment, which is typically wanted for commercial properties, then be sure to save it).

Step 3: Remove and Replace the Batteries

While it may be tempting to purchase cheap batteries to save a bit of money, it is best to invest a little more money. Purchase some high-quality batteries that will last for at least six months. Remember, these are backup batteries, so they won’t be used all the time.

Step 4: Replace the Pin to Lock the Battery Compartment

The battery compartment can be relocked by replacing the pin and closing the battery door. Reinsert the locking pin you removed in the lock.

Step 5: Test the Smoke Detector

Prior to reattaching the unit to the base, make sure to test it to ensure the batteries are working. Once you are confident it is working you can reattach the smoke alarm to the mounting bracket.

It is a good idea to change the batteries a few times a year. This will help ensure the smoke alarm continues working properly and be able to protect your home, family or business.

Make sure that if your smoke detectors are connected to a home security system, you contact your monitoring company to put the system on test and possibly power the system down during this process. This will help to avoid a false alarm to your fire department.

If you are needing further help or have questions, you can call the professionals at Teague Security.

1.0 out of 5 stars Seller won't accept return of shady product, DO NOT PURCHASE
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2021

If I could give this zero stars I would. This product appears to be either refurbished or counterfeit. It arrives in bubble wrap in a box, instead of the typical professional smoke detector packaging, and to top it off, it also comes with a sketchy photocopied instruction sheet (it's very obvious it's a bad copy with odd shading along the sides and some sections of text much lighter in color than other areas). Also, the product arrived already in the On position so I have no idea how long it's been on. Also, the seller will not accept a return, so now I'm stuck with a product that I have NO confidence in, which is important when we're talking about something that is supposed to save lives. I would not recommend purchasing this, or anything, from this seller.

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Top reviews from the United States

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Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2022

Bought this alarm to replace our "we changed the batteries last month, why is it intermittently beeping" alarm. This one is so sensitive that it goes off when the oven's on BROIL.

The good news is that it's really easy to turn off for a false alarm; just press the button on the alarm's face.

It's easy to install and comes with instructions and hardware. If you are purchasing a replacement, you don't even need to install hardware. You can easily twist this on to an existing plate (again, if it's a replacement - worked for us, your mileage may vary). We purchased new smoke alarms <5 years ago, have replaced the batteries several times, and are now replacing the alarms themselves.

PRODUCT CLAIMS
- ionization sensor for smoke detection - I'm not sure about this, but we have one outside of the bathroom, and it does go off during particularly steamy showers
- battery operated alarm unit monitors during power failure - We've had no issues (and, if anything, more peace of mind) during times without power
- easy to install - VERY easy. You need a drill or screwdriver. That's it.
- single test/silence button - Easy to find, easy to turn off, easy to test. Battery is easy to check and change with the side battery door.

If you need a smoke alarm at a good value, and don't mind replacing it a few years down the line, this is the product for you. For this price, it's easy to get one for each bedroom and floor of your home (as they recommend). Keep a few extra 9V batteries handy in case you need to replace one at an inconvenient time.

Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2022

I bought this alarm to replace the other two I had for years. Same model number. The tech said the other were malfunctioning and I still had two years left on them but they replaced them. I bought this until the others got here. This one blinks red every 40 secs. Which the others did not. I thought there was something wrong so I called customer support. They sent out a different t model replacement. However upon looking at the small print on the back of the alarm itself, it says it blinks red led every 45 seconds to show it has power. So since it’s blinking every 40 secs. Not alarming or chirping I am assuming it works? I don’t know as each customer service rep says something different. The blinking makes me nervous as the older model did not do that.

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2022

My older one of these stopped working after like 7 years so it was time to replace. Works for me!

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2022

I had a bit of a problem putting it together. Think it would of been simple like my old one. I did figure it out & now it’s working.

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2022

At first it drove me crazy, I would cook country smoked bacon, and right after the bacon hit the pan, It was going off. But after thinking about it, If it goes off with that little amount of smoke, then it'll go off before the house is burning down around my wife and myself or maybe before the furnace or other appliance
becomes damaged and unrepairable. I would recommend

Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2022

I ordered two of these and was able to install one because only one worked! I’m so frustrated with this issue right now that I just got another one from elsewhere because I have had so much trouble replacing my smoke detectors for over two weeks now. The last ones I had worked just great! I got a full 10 1/2 years out of them although they only promise 10. They were first alerts also so I figured for sure these would be good, but that wasn’t the case. Technology is never a sure shot! This was my third order since the last set expired two weeks ago so I just gave up on trying to return the bad one and chalked it up to another loss! I needed to get some installed as soon as possible and decided not to place another order. I found a replacement locally and we’re set now.

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022

Put one in each bedroom—these are to detect both smoldering fire as well as flaming.

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022

Product chirped repeatedly --right out of the box. Cleared memory (per instructions), reinstalled supplied battery--- same chirping about every 45-sec. Very annoying. Tested their supplied GP-brand 9v battery- Fully charged (10v). Was going to return it for refund, but swapped in a new Duracell 9v battery, just to make sure. --Viola! No chirping. Go figure....

Battery issue bother me, hence 4 stars. The detectors itself is likely excellent. Time will tell.

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