Tall ceiling issue (Tampa: 2013, rent, house)

[JoeBI]

Can someone reccommend a safe/easy way to change the batteries of two smoke detectors, mounted on the ceiling in my IRB home? The task is simple, but reaching the devices is not because they are 20-25 feet high.
I've tried contacting a couple handy people with no taker so far. I am thinking of renting/purchasing some sort of scarfolding to get this done.

[EngGirl]

I was always wondering who in the world would design something like that?! One on the house we were looking to buy had this cathedral ceiling, and for the same reason we decided not even bid on tha that house. Our realtor was saying there were no batteries and everything was wired but red light blinking didn't make us belive him.

Try to contact company who does window washing. They might be able to help you.

[jsun556]

Rent a ladder from Home Depot.

[JoeBI]

Originally Posted by jsun556

Rent a ladder from Home Depot.

I was wondering about that. Two things of concerns are
1- How do I transport such long ladder?
2- The devices are about 4 feet from the wall, so if the ladder leaned against the wall at the ceiling, I still can't reach the smoke detector.

[JoeBI]

Originally Posted by EngGirl

I was always wondering who in the world would design something like that?! One on the house we were looking to buy had this cathedral ceiling, and for the same reason we decided not even bid on tha that house. Our realtor was saying there were no batteries and everything was wired but red light blinking didn't make us belive him.

Try to contact company who does window washing. They might be able to help you.

I thought the same about these hardwired smoke detectors, but apparently, they all have backup batteries that must be replaced every few years.

[Tampa No Look]

Let the detectors die and install new ones where one would not need a damn scissorlift to access.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by JoeBI

I was wondering about that. Two things of concerns are
1- How do I transport such long ladder?
2- The devices are about 4 feet from the wall, so if the ladder leaned against the wall at the ceiling, I still can't reach the smoke detector.

I would call the fire dept and see what solution they offer. Obviously only an idiot would build such house knowing fully well that these things need their batteries change, and not everyone is Spiderman to be able to climb tall ladders to change them.

[chi_tino]

Originally Posted by Tampa No Look

Let the detectors die and install new ones where one would not need a damn scissorlift to access.

Yeah, that will be a lot of fun to ignore when they start beeping every minute.

Is it possible that they don't have batteries? I have a cathedral ceiling on one floor and the alarms are wired in.

[Tim Tim Tim]

I think placement is determined more by house design and where the smoke will go vs whats easy to change batteries in..

[HWTechGuy]

Buy yourself a Little Giant ladder. You will find it useful for other things around the house.