Eventually, the battery in your ADT smoke alarm will die, so it will need to be replaced at some point. If you hear a beeping sound from your smoke detector, it is probably time to replace the battery. Changing an ADT alarm system battery is very easy and it only takes a few minutes of your time to complete on your own. 

Materials Needed

  • New 9V battery
  • Ceiling mounts (for alarms installed on ceilings)
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Flashlight (optional)

Before You Begin

First, you need to find where your ADT smoke alarm unit is installed. ADT smoke alarms are normally positioned on the ceiling or at a height on a wall. Before replacing the battery ensure that you have the right ladder that will enable you to get to the alarm if it is mounted on the ceiling.

Figure out what type of battery it requires to be changed. Most ADT smoke alarms will call for a regular rectangular 9-volt battery. It is recommended to have a new and fully charged 9V battery easily accessible before starting. This is why it is advisable to buy 9V batteries in sets because the smoke detector battery is usually replaced approximately once a year.

Finally, do not replace the battery when the smoke detector is continuously beeping. If the unit still produces a beeping sound, it is still on power. Attempting to replace the battery whenever the smoke alarm sounds can pose certain problems with reactivating the unit.

How to replace the ADT smoke alarm battery?

1. Turn off Alarm Power

First, make sure the alarm is off; for a wired ADT system, you do this by pressing the buttons on the ADT control panel, or if you have a wire-free system, unplug the alarm unit from the socket. This helps to prevent the passing of power through the unit when working on it is ongoing.

2. Remove the alarm from the mounting plate by using a Screwdriver

The majority of the ADT smoke alarms are connected to a mounting plate that is installed on the wall or ceiling. Attached to this backing plate should be one or two Phillips screws holding the entire alarm unit. Using your screwdriver, you can then remove these screws to deactivate the alarm. Ceiling-mount units that are relatively big may contain two screws while those wall-mounted detectors contain one screw.

3. Remove Old 9V Battery

After the separation of the alarm from its mounting plate, you should look for the battery compartment at the rear or on the side of the alarm. You will have a compartment cover or a switch where you can be able to check on the battery. Open the battery compartment lid remove the old battery and dispose of it properly.

4. Insert The Fresh Battery

Replace the new 9V alkaline battery with the battery terminals while ensuring that the positive and negative portions fit appropriately. Sometimes, you might have to bend some of the wires or contacts to properly secure the battery. If necessary, use the flashlight to have a better look at the battery compartment of the remote.

5. Test The New Battery

After fitting the new battery, try the terminals by pressing the ‘Test’ button on the smoke alarm if available. You should hear an audible beep or alarm sound, it means that a new battery works. In the event of no beep and no sound then ensure that the battery is well placed or try to replace it with another brand new 9 Volt battery.

6. Reconnect The Alarm To The Mounting Plate

After you’re done testing the fresh battery, ensure that the alarm unit is properly clipped on the ceiling or wall mount. Tighten the screws into their respective holes to make it tightly fixed in place. You do not want the alarm to drop from vibrations or hot air.

7. Restore Power To The Alarm System

If your wireless ADT alarm was disconnected earlier, plug it back into the power outlet. For hardwired smoke detectors, restore power at the alarm control panel depending on the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The alarm LED will then turn on to indicate that the unit is receiving power.

Press the “Test” button once more when the red LED light of the smoke detector is continuously illuminated. The alarm should now beep indicating that the device is back to normal and working as it was before. If not, check all the connections and ensure that the new battery has been fixed properly.

Additional Tips and Warnings

  • Vacuum smoke detector vents yearly to ensure that the detector is free from dust, dead insects, and debris that may hinder the detector’s sensitivity to smoke alarms.
  • It is unlawful to paint over the smoke alarm or to allow grease, soap residue, and dust to accumulate on the unit.
  • Ensure that there are adequate 9V batteries to replace the dead ones as soon as possible to guarantee adequate fire protection.
  • Replace the backup batteries on all smoke alarms whenever you replace one in an alarm to increase alarm life.
  • Replace the entire smoke alarm units themselves every 8-10 years or as recommended by the manufacturer.

This is simple and can be done within a few minutes; however, it goes a long way in ensuring that the ADT smoke detector performs optimally as well as ensures that one’s safety is guaranteed. By replacing the battery, the fire alarm is guaranteed to work as intended and keep your home and family safe in case of an emergency. ADT alarm units should be tested monthly to ensure that they are functioning as they should.

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