Problems with smoke alarms

To keep your smoke alarm in good working order:

test it once a week, or once a month as a minimum, by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds
change the battery once a year (unless it's a ten-year alarm).

Most smoke alarms need to be replaced after 10 years. Check your warranty and replace your alarm every 10 years.

Find out about choosing and fitting a new smoke alarm

If your smoke alarm is making an intermittent bleeping noise

Check that your smoke alarm is definitely the source of the bleeping. Make sure the noise isn't coming from another alarm (smoke/carbon monoxide/gas/burglar alarm) by a process of elimination.
If it beeps every minute or so this could be a ‘low battery' warning. This can also occur with hard-wired alarms (mains connected) as there is often a battery backup in case of a power cut.
Some alarms can be silenced by pressing the central test button. Your smoke alarm will still detect smoke during this time of low battery warning silence.
Replace your alarm or its battery immediately, and certainly within seven days, as your alarm may not have enough power to warn you of a real fire after this time.

If your smoke alarm is sounding in a non-emergency

Smoke alarms can sometimes react to cooking fumes, candle flames or other non-emergency situations.

In the event of a false alarm:

press and release the central test button to pause the alarm.

It will then automatically return to full sensitivity within 10 minutes.

Troubleshooting

It’s best to read the manufacturers instructions for your particular alarm. If you don’t have these to hand, you can find a copy online by looking up the make and model.