Have you ever walked into a room and heard your smart meter beeping?
Perhaps it’s in the garage, laundry room, or kitchen.
The sound is often annoying and can disrupt sleep, but how can you stop it from beeping?
Here are 7 methods to stop a smart meter from beeping:
- Check unread notifications.
- Replace the smart meter’s battery.
- Unplug the device.
- Replace your old devices with new ones.
- Check the settings in your app and device.
- Mute the device.
- Reset the meter.
BONUS: Move the meter device away from other appliances.
The rest of this article explains each of these steps in detail.
Read on for a detailed rundown of each and tips on how to keep your smart meter working longer.
1. Check Unread Notifications
A beeping smart meter is the first sign that you have unread notifications.
To stop this, check your notifications and clear them from the screen.
If this doesn’t work, try methods 2 onwards or until you find a solution that works for you.
Check out: How Often Does a Smart Meter Send Readings? 3 Common Times
2. Replace the Smart Meter’s Battery
In some cases, the beeping may be due to the battery running low or dying.
This can happen after a few weeks or even months of use.
To fix this, replace the battery with a new one.
You might find that some models don’t have an easily accessible battery compartment. This may make it difficult to replace them.
If that’s the case, try method 3 below.
3. Unplug the Device
Sometimes, you can unplug the smart meter to stop the beeping.
Afterward, plug it back in and see if there are no more beeping sounds. It can be as simple as that.
If that doesn’t work, try any of the other methods or call customer support for help.
4. Replace Your Old Devices With New Ones
If you have an older model that’s constantly beeping all of a sudden, consider replacing it with a newer version. It might do the trick.
Newer versions are better manufactured and dependable than their older counterparts.
5. Check the Settings in Your App and Device
Sometimes, smart meters beep when they’re not supposed to or vice versa.
To fix this, check the settings in your device’s app and the unit itself.
To find out if there are any issues with the meter’s time and date, set them manually through the app instead of relying on a 3rd-party server.
Also, check that alarm clocks aren’t coming up without you realizing it.
In addition, double-check that there isn’t a calendar or clock with the wrong time.
6. Mute the Device
If any of the previous methods fail, you’ll need to resort to muting your smart meter so that it won’t beep.
To mute a smart meter, swipe down on its app screen and select noises.
You’ll find the mute function under Settings in the apps menu.
Choose sounds or notifications and turn off all sound options by sliding the button next to them until it shows 0%.
7. Reset the Meter
Sometimes, beeping can be due to a faulty smart meter. To find out if this is the case, you may have to reset the unit by removing all batteries.
Alternatively, hold down the meter’s reset button for 30 seconds or so.
Next, restart it and make sure that it’s not affected again by beeping sounds. If so, check for any internal or external damage.
Also, I recommend that you ascertain whether you can fix it yourself or need professional help.
BONUS: Move the Device Away From Other Appliances
When it comes to beeping, this is one of the most common solutions.
Smart meters are essentially wireless devices that send data to your phone or another location. This may cause interference between them and nearby electronics.
If there are 2 or more smart meters in a room where you’re sleeping, check if moving them around will change anything regarding their beeping sounds.
Other Smart Meter Problems and Their Fixes
Besides beeping, smart meters often encounter the following problems:
Your Smart Meter Isn’t Making Any Noise at All
If your smart meter isn’t making any noise, try to reset it first. Check if that helps get rid of the sound.
If not, check if there’s an update available for the app that you can install. To do this, open the app on your phone and press either the Settings or the Upgrade button.
Afterward, follow the instructions on your screen until the installer completes the job. If all else fails, uninstall and reinstall the app.
Your Smart Phone Doesn’t Recognize the Smart Meter
There are times when you have a smart meter in your home, but the app can’t recognize it. To solve it, uninstall and reinstall its app on your phone.
This should help fix the problem if there’s an issue with connectivity between your smart device and its software.
You may also wonder: Should smart devices be on a separate network?
The Meter’s App Stops Working After an Update
This is a common problem that most smart meter users encounter. It happens when the app or gadget’s software crashes on their smartphone and then starts up again by itself.
If this happens to you, try uninstalling the app and reinstalling its latest version. If not, wipe your phone’s cache partition and check if that fixes the problem.
This video explains common smart meter issues and how to fix them:
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens if My Smart Meter Stops Working?
If your smart meter stopped working, you can no longer access accurate information about your energy usage and electricity cost. There would be no way to know when an appliance is malfunctioning or consuming too much power. Besides, you may lose track of the billing history.
Your smart meter stopping is a sign that something is wrong.
You may need to update the meter’s firmware. To do that, log into the utility company’s website and follow the instructions they provide.
Alternatively, contact their customer service by phone. They should be able to help you right away.
If that doesn’t work, try plugging the meter directly into a wall socket to see if power has been interrupted.
What Does a Red Triangle Mean on a Smart Meter?
A red triangle on your smart meter means there are unread alerts. This often happens when you need to replace its battery. It also shows when an alert is pending due to a problem in the wiring or interruption of service.
To view such alerts, open your smart meter messages app directly from your phone or the device.
The latter applies if you have installed the app and connected it to the meter.
Can Smart Meters Be Faulty?
Smart meters can become faulty. Some of the malfunction causes include bad wiring, poor grounding within your house, or physical damage. These may cause the meters to shut down or give inaccurate readings.
If your meter no longer works and you need to replace it, I recommend the Emporia Smart Home Energy Monitor (available on Amazon.com).
It features 8 sensors for accurate monitoring and an app that provides real-time notifications.
This allows you to track your energy use and identify ways to reduce power costs.
That said, proper maintenance is the best way to get the most out of any smart meter.
In that regard, here are ways to keep your meter working for the longest time:
- Don’t overload your circuit breaker. This may cause a surge in the flow of current exceeding the capacity of your home’s wiring. Remember, smart meters need steady power sources.
- Take note of when you installed each smart meter and whether you did it correctly. Also, check its condition before and after installation. This way, you avoid paying for repairs or replacements resulting from improper installation.
- Reinforce your smart meter box. It’s crucial to keep it out of the reach of children and pets. If a child or pet touches it while its power switch is still on, it can cause an electrical shock.
- Only use an authorized utility provider. This may help ensure proper installation per safety standards.
Final Thoughts
You may have gone to bed, but your smart meter is still beeping.
Sound familiar? If so, the methods above should stop that annoying beep from waking up everyone in your house.
However, if those tips don’t work, or if you want help stopping that annoying sound for good, it would help to contact customer support.
They may help identify and fix any issues with your device so it’ll never bother you again.
Read next: Are Smart Meters Accurate? 9 Surprising Facts + Video