Smoke & CO Detectors

Test Mode is a great way to test the connection between your Base Station and other SimpliSafe® products. We recommend periodically placing your system into Test Mode to ensure that your devices are still communicating with the Base Station without any errors. 

Placing Your System Into Test Mode

1. Disarm your system by pressing OFF on the Keypad

2. Press the Menu button on your Keypad

3. Enter your Primary PIN

4. Scroll until Test Mode is highlighted

5. Use the right arrow key to enter Test Mode

You’ll know you are in Test Mode when you see a circle on the Keypad appear with the text, “Test each device by pressing its button.”

Note: If you subscribe to monitoring, you will receive a robo call from the monitoring center asking you to confirm you placed your system into Test Mode. If you do not answer – no worries! A voicemail will be left to alert you to the system test, and it will not result in a request for dispatch.

Testing the Carbon Monoxide Detector

Press the Test/Mute button on the front of the Carbon Monoxide Detector for no longer than 1 second. The device will chirp loudly for several seconds - so be sure to protect your ears while testing!

The Base Station will announce, “Carbon Monoxide Detector” to confirm the test was successful.

Once you are done testing the Carbon Monoxide Detector, press the left arrow key on the Keypad’s screen to exit Test Mode.

Note: If the Carbon Monoxide Detector detects particulate consistent with CO when your system is in Test Mode, the monitoring center will act as if it’s an emergency and respond accordingly for the alarm event.

Troubleshooting the Carbon Monoxide Detector

If you are having trouble testing your Carbon Monoxide Detector, the first thing we’d recommend is ensuring that you are only pressing the test button for no more than 1 second. If you press it for longer than that, it could cancel the test or cause the Base Station to not respond audibly.

As a next step, you’ll want to confirm that the Carbon Monoxide Detector battery is functioning. The CO Detector takes three (3) Energizer AA "UItimate Lithium" 1.5V batteries and has a life expectancy of 3-5 years depending on placement and usage.

Finally, you’ll want to ensure that your Base Station is centrally located within your home or business, and free from any neighboring wireless devices. We recommend having the Base Station elevated at least 3 feet off the ground on a non-dense surface (ideally glass or wood). We also recommend avoiding placing the Base Station within a cabinet or enclosed structure - as this can weaken the signal of it to other devices.

Test Mode is a great way to test the connection between your Base Station and other SimpliSafe® products. We recommend periodically placing your system into Test Mode to ensure that your devices are still communicating with the Base Station without any errors. 

Placing Your System Into Test Mode

1. Disarm your system by pressing OFF on the Keypad

2. Press the Menu button on your Keypad

3. Enter your Primary PIN

4. Scroll until Test Mode is highlighted

5. Use the right arrow key to enter Test Mode

You’ll know you are in Test Mode when you see a circle on the Keypad appear with the text, “Test each device by pressing its button”.

Note: If you subscribe to monitoring, you will receive a robo call from the monitoring center asking you to confirm you placed your system into Test Mode. If you do not answer – no worries! A voicemail will be left to alert you to the system test, and it will not result in a request for dispatch.

Testing the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector

Press the Test Button on the front of the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector for no longer than 1 second. The unit will chirp loudly for several seconds – so be sure to protect your ears during this!

The Base Station will also announce, “Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector” to let you know the test was successful.

Once you are done testing your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector, press the left arrow key on the Keypad’s screen to exit Test Mode.

Note: If the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector detects particulate consistent with smoke or CO when your system is in Test Mode, the monitoring center will act as if it’s an emergency and respond accordingly for the alarm event.

Troubleshooting the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector

If you are having trouble testing your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector, the first thing we’d recommend is ensuring that you are only pressing the test button for no more than 1 second. If you press it for longer than that, it could cancel the test or cause the Base Station to not respond audibly.

As a next step, you’ll want to confirm that the Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector battery is functioning. The Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector takes two CR-123A Lithium 3V batteries and has a life expectancy of up to 2 years, depending on placement and usage.

Finally, you’ll want to ensure that your Base Station is centrally located within your home or business, and free from any neighboring wireless devices. We recommend having the Base Station elevated at least 3 feet off the ground on a non-dense surface (ideally glass or wood). We also recommend avoiding placing the Base Station within a cabinet or enclosed structure - as this can weaken the signal of it to other devices.

If you see a “Malfunctioned” error for your Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide Detector, or Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector, that means that the device should be replaced as soon as possible. 

If your device is still within warranty, our Support team can send you a replacement.

The Smoke & CO Detector has several light states that reflect the status of the device and change when there is the presence of smoke or CO within your home. This guide will highlight the various indicators and their meanings.

You may encounter a constant yellow light that is not accompanied by a chirp on your Smoke Detector, CO Detector, or Smoke & CO Detector, or a blinking red light on your Smoke & CO Alarm Listener, accompanied by the app error “Tamper Detected”. This is an indication that the device is not fully attached to its bracket, and needs to be adjusted within its bracket to clear the error.

When placing your device back into its mounting bracket, make sure to twist it fully until you hear it snap into place. The warning light should stop immediately.

If you still see that light, it is possible that the mounting bracket itself may be screwed into your wall or ceiling too tightly, causing the plastic to warp slightly. It may help to unmount the unit and slightly loosen the screws. Then try mounting the detector again.

Once the device has been properly mounted, we recommend placing your system into Test Mode and testing your detector to ensure that it is working as intended. To place your system into Test Mode:

1. Locate your Keypad and press the Menu button

2. Enter your Primary PIN

3. Scroll until Test Mode is highlighted

4. Use the rocker and tap to the right to enter Test Mode

You’ll know you are in Test Mode when you see the circle on the Keypad, with the text “Test each device by pressing its button”.

Note: If you have monitoring, you will receive a robo call from the Monitoring Center asking you to confirm you have placed your system into Test Mode.

To test your device, hold down the TEST button on the device for about 1 second. Please note that pressing this button will invoke a loud chirp from your detector Smoke Detector, CO Detector, and Smoke & CO Detector - so be sure to protect your ears during this process. Your Base Station will also confirm the test was successful by announcing the product name. 

To exit Test Mode, pick up your Keypad and use the rocker to press the Exit option on the screen. 

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener monitors nearby smoke and carbon monoxide detectors by listening for their alarms. When three smoke or CO alarm sequences are heard, the Alarm Listener will trigger an alarm. 

To help prevent false alarms from the Alarm Listener, try to not install the Alarm Listener close to a television or speaker. If the Alarm Listener hears the sound of an alarm, like from a television show or movie, it could trigger a false alarm. 

For more information on finding the best place for your Listener, see the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener Installation Guide on the Help Center.

The Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector alerts you at the first sign of smoke or CO within your home. You should place this device near sleeping areas, ensuring that there is one on every floor within your home. If wall mounting your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector, ensure that it is no more than 12 inches from the ceiling.

We recommend installing the Smoke & CO Detector at least 10 feet away from any furnace, stove, or fireplace. Additionally, we recommend avoiding placing it in a garage or in any bathroom with a shower, as dust, debris, and steam have the potential to trigger false alarms.

We also recommend cleaning your Smoke & CO Detector once a month, to avoid false alarms from dust and debris build-up. 

*This product is designed for residential use. When used in a commercial environment, it should be supplementary to your existing smoke and/or CO detectors and not your sole detector(s).

In accordance with National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) guidance, SimpliSafe® recommends replacing your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector within five (5) years of the manufacture date (found on the label on the back of your device).