Reviews:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·AT&T Midwest
 ·voip.ms
| How often to change smoke detector batteries How often have you been changing your smoke detector batteries?
Do you do it on a schedule or wait until they chirp?
I have eleven hardwired interconnected smoke detectors in my house. Last week and this week, I started getting chirps and I replaced two Energizer batteries that were marked February 2005. So that's over seven years on a 9-volt.
NFPA says to do it once a year, apparently. No one in their right mind is going to argue with that since there are frequently stories about people dying in houses where the detectors were disabled or had dead batteries.
--
USNG:
16TDN2870
Find your USNG coordinates:
USNGWeb |
|
 KenPremium,MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN | Yes you are supposed to test the detectors every month, change the batteries every year, and replace the detectors themselves every X years per the manufacturer. Typically I have seen 7-10 years on most of them. Now with that said, I don't know anyone that actually does all of that. |
|
| Once a year and put in the good stuff (bunny or copper). Haven't had good experiences with el-cheapos. |
|
| This is one thing I never understood - what's the use of having AC powered detectors (apart from linking) if you have to change the batteries every year?
I change ours when it chirps, and the detectors were changed last year... turns out they expired 1 year before we bought the house in 2007. So add that to your checklist if you buy a house - check and change (if necessary) the smoke detectors. |
|
 cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | said by fifty nine:This is one thing I never understood - what's the use of having AC powered detectors (apart from linking) if you have to change the batteries every year? Why does your alarm clock have a battery when it also plugs into a wall? Why do you have flashlights/candles when you have lamps that plug into a wall?
Two studies in the 80s and 90s found that in 69% of house fires where the alarm didn't sound, the cause was dead/missing battery or other power source issue. People "borrow" the 9V battery for other purposes, or it just dies and they forget about it. Neither of those things are an issue with AC powered smoke detectors. But AC powered smoke detectors aren't very useful if the power's out. |
|
|
|
 fphallThe GuardianPremium
join:2003-11-01
Bristol, CT | reply to ArgMeMatey
Twice a year, when we change the clocks forward or back. |
|
 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
·Charter
 ·surpasshosting
·voip.ms
| reply to ArgMeMatey
I'm guilty of waiting til they chirp. I do "test" them more often. I guess my cheapness won't allow me to throw away a good battery. I've found that since I switched to wired, the batteries last for several years.
--
...because I care. |
|
nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8 | reply to ArgMeMatey
Feb 2005, you are about 8 months from needing replacement units.
--
...because I care. |
|
TheMGPremium
join:2007-09-04
Canada
kudos:1 | reply to ArgMeMatey
Our smoke detectors which are wirelessly connected to our monitored alarm system have lithium batteries that are supposed to be good for 7 years.
If the batteries go low or the unit fails the system will let us know, as I believe it periodically checks the status of all detectors/sensors in the system to determine if they are still "alive". |
|
 LazManPremium
join:2003-03-26
canada | reply to ArgMeMatey
Most fire dept's recommend changing the batteries twice a year, at the start and end of daylight savings... Probably a little excessive, to be honest; but better that way, then the other. I keep the batteries I take out of the smoke detector, and use them in other things, as not to waste them...
There are some lithium batteries out now that last 7-10 years, as well.
No matter how they are powered, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years at a minimum, 7 years for CO detectors... Some detectors now include a lifetime counter, and start chirping when 7-10 years (as appropriate) has elapsed... |
|
ke4pymPremium
join:2004-07-24
Charlotte, NC Reviews:
·VOIPo
 ·Verizon Broadban..
·RoadRunner Cable
·Northland Cable ..
| reply to ArgMeMatey
Re: How often to change smoke detector batteries When they chirp. At the price of batteries these days? No way I'm replacing them 2x a year. I have 6 of the things in my house.
I've got neighbors who go YEARS (no joke, had to listen to it) without changing batteries AND they listen to the thing chirp every 45 seconds. |
|
 JtmoPremium
join:2001-05-20
Novato, CA | reply to ArgMeMatey
My families lives are worth more than a few lousy 9 volt batteries. Your family may not be as valuable.
That, and they ALWAYS fail in the middle of the night.
If you have an electrical outage that causes a fire, you will need that battery backup.
Since most fires are in the winter, I change them and the CO detector each fall change in time. And, I write the date on them. |
|
 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | reply to ke4pym
said by ke4pym:When they chirp. At the price of batteries these days? No way I'm replacing them 2x a year. I have 6 of the things in my house.
I've got neighbors who go YEARS (no joke, had to listen to it) without changing batteries AND they listen to the thing chirp every 45 seconds.
I've concluded using Duracell or Energizer batteries changing them once/year is fine and perhaps overkill. I have 5 and one of those has a light so it takes 2 batteries. I've yet had any of them chirp and all test ok. |
|
 SmokChsrWho let the magic smoke out?Premium
join:2006-03-17
Saint Augustine, FL | reply to ArgMeMatey
Twice a year is overkill. Once a year is fine, recommended for when you "Fall back" (this also used to fall in October, which is Fire Safety month).
Personally, I test most of the detectors once a month, the one in the kitchen gets tested at least weekly by real smoke, and replace on chirps. I've got enough detectors that I'm not relying on any one device. I've checked several detectors that were chirping and found no degradation in their sensing capability, and each would alarm for at least 3 minutes. (sorry I don't know how long they would actually last, 3 minutes was all I could take).
My pet peeve with new units, that darn 3 slow beeps pause, repeat. The old ones that did the fast interrupted sonalert tone would wake me up in milliseconds. The new ones have a hard time even getting my attention. |
|
| reply to TheMG
said by TheMG:Our smoke detectors which are wirelessly connected to our monitored alarm system have lithium batteries that are supposed to be good for 7 years.
...
Lithium batteries (9v) have a shelf-life of 7-10years. But in use, it maybe less than half. Which, is still 3-5x longer than regular 9v.
I may try that option.
Which brings me too, how does one dispose of the lithium battery? Do you trash them, or take to recycler or disposal at home depot/lowes/Rshack?
--
Splat |
|
Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to ArgMeMatey
I change them when they chirp. They seem to last some 2-3 years. The detector downstairs gets a real test every few months as it's near the kitchen 
When one chirps I change them all as the others are about to die soon. |
|
 tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8
·G4 Communications
·Fairpoint Commun..
·Hollis Hosting
| reply to nunya
said by nunya: I've found that since I switched to wired, the batteries last for several years.
I'm in the same boat. We have three wired units, About 5 years ago replaced them with combo wired battery backup units and added a CO sensor.
I try to follow the "Fall Back" battery change rule but don't always remember. Have not had them beep due to low battery.
/tom |
|
| reply to cdru
said by cdru:said by fifty nine:This is one thing I never understood - what's the use of having AC powered detectors (apart from linking) if you have to change the batteries every year? Why does your alarm clock have a battery when it also plugs into a wall? Why do you have flashlights/candles when you have lamps that plug into a wall? Absolutely. Those are BACKUP batteries that you don't change every year.
Two studies in the 80s and 90s found that in 69% of house fires where the alarm didn't sound, the cause was dead/missing battery or other power source issue. People "borrow" the 9V battery for other purposes, or it just dies and they forget about it. Neither of those things are an issue with AC powered smoke detectors. But AC powered smoke detectors aren't very useful if the power's out.
If you "borrow" the 9v battery from a wired detector, the detector will keep chirping.
Changing it once a year seems acceptable. Changing the battery twice a year? Seems like duracell trying to drum up business. |
|
| reply to Jtmo
said by Jtmo:My families lives are worth more than a few lousy 9 volt batteries. Your family may not be as valuable.
That, and they ALWAYS fail in the middle of the night.
If you have an electrical outage that causes a fire, you will need that battery backup.
Since most fires are in the winter, I change them and the CO detector each fall change in time. And, I write the date on them.
I have 8 smoke detectors in the house - one in each bedroom and one on each floor by the stairs. If all of them fail to sound, then I'm probably dead anyway.
Changing batteries twice a year IS overkill. You're doing nothing to enhance safety, and everything to fatten the pockets of battery manufacturers.
I test mine every month. They work. |
|
