# What the hell beeped? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086 "2018-07-17T14:35:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/21 "2018-07-17T19:17:16Z")
We have been suffering from Mystery Beep Syndrome for quite a while. It originates in the basement, can be heard in the living room, and is random in number and occurrence. It’s not a smoke, C02, electrical interruption notice, computer update, battery-powered device, cable device, and so on. I’ve combed every nook and cranny in the vicinity and there just isn’t any beep-producing equipment; it’s been happening for two years, so if it were a low battery warning it would have died long ago. It’s a PG version of Chinese water torture . . . ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/22 "2018-07-17T19:31:47Z")
At my in-laws the mystery beep wasn’t the smoke or CO detectors, because we finally resorted to unplugging them all to see if that solved it. When it didn’t, I found another CO detector plugged into the wall, but behind some stuff. It’s battery was bad, but because it was plugged in, it would beep forever… So, go around and check every outlet, even ones that are behind stuff, and take an inventory of what is plugged into them. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/23 "2018-07-17T19:50:39Z")
Furnace? Heat pump? Condenser or filter? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/24 "2018-07-17T20:15:03Z")
My old fridge had a bird sounding beep when filling the ice tray. We quit noticing after a while. Got a new fridge and I miss my fridge-bird. ---
**Author:** ![katgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@katgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/25 "2018-07-17T21:11:35Z")
That happened to me and I couldn’t tell what it was. Then I went to open the safe one day, a small unit in the wall with a battery operated keyboard. The batteries had died and I can’t open it. Thank god there’s nothing in it but now I can’t use it. I know that’s what it was because it happened to me at my old house, and I knew to change the safe battery then, but I had forgotten about it this time in my new house. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/26 "2018-07-18T00:13:46Z")
Does your house have a smart meter for the Energy company to record your usage? Maybe that is failing. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/27 "2018-07-18T04:21:54Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Does your house have a smart meter for the Energy company to record your usage? Maybe that is failing. Beats me, but it was definitely inside the house, and the meter is outside. And no beeps since 2:15 a.m. last night. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/28 "2018-07-18T05:41:30Z")
Smoke detectors don’t always do what you think they’re supposed to. I’ve had one give triple beeps a few times. Whatever I did to it didn’t seem to fix it but then it just stopped. Some internet research suggests it may have been an animal (spider or something) around the sensor and it was giving intermittent alarms. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/29 "2018-07-18T06:25:38Z")
Maybe it was your life-clock crystal in your palm. Are you due for Carousel and renewal? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/30 "2018-07-18T14:02:45Z")
I have a Select Comfort mattress and the pump for it beeps after a power outage. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/31 "2018-07-18T16:24:32Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I have a Select Comfort mattress and the pump for it beeps after a power outage. Seems like a design flaw to me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/32 "2018-07-18T17:37:59Z")
Whatever it is, it beeped again last night. Most annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/33 "2018-07-18T18:04:32Z")
I’ve got a carbon monoxide sensor that’ll do that. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/34 "2018-07-18T18:08:16Z")
Our microwave did the intermittent beeping thing, right before the membrane keyboard died. Then it made a very loud shrill beep and would not shut the f\*$90 up until I unplugged it. Which was challenging, as it was a cabinet mounted model. Anyway, try that? Amazing, all of the electronic stuff in a house, when you think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/35 "2018-07-18T18:09:04Z")
Do you have a security system? Maybe the back-up battery is failing. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/36 "2018-07-18T18:53:31Z")
My wall beeps. Every 30 to 60 seconds or so. In one location at the bottom of the stairs leading into the basement. It’s been doing this for about 7 years. Every 30 to 60 seconds. It’s gotten fainter over the years, but still there. I figure the folks who owned the house before me (and who had the basement finished) walled up a smoke detector somehow. I figure it’s got to stop beeping eventually. Right? RIGHT??? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/37 "2018-07-18T19:01:08Z")
> [@divemaster](#): > > My wall beeps. Every 30 to 60 seconds or so. In one location at the bottom of the stairs leading into the basement. > > It’s been doing this for about 7 years. Every 30 to 60 seconds. It’s gotten fainter over the years, but still there. I figure the folks who owned the house before me (and who had the basement finished) walled up a smoke detector somehow. I figure it’s got to stop beeping eventually. Right? RIGHT??? Would it be illegal, given this provocation, to kidnap them and force them to come fix that? ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/38 "2018-07-18T19:15:07Z")
I would if I could find them. Alas, I believe they fled the country ahead of the 7-8 creditors trying to find them, if my mail has been any indication over the years. I know for a fact they bailed on the house (we bought it from foreclosure). ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/39 "2018-07-18T19:27:42Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Smoke detectors don’t always do what you think they’re supposed to. I’ve had one give triple beeps a few times… I’ve had a couple that give the single beep for dying battery, but give a much more occasional( like once every 30 minutes) triple beep to signal for end of life. They were designed to only last 5 or 10 years before being replaced completely. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086/40 "2018-07-18T20:03:02Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Do you have a security system? Maybe the back-up battery is failing. That was my first suspect, but I would think it would beep more often than once in 24 hours. I reset the clock on it this morning and it was all working fine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-beeped/818086.md?page=3)