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Now that I widowed, I need to hire a handyman to replace the smoke detector batteries, which I do twice a year. Yes, I know batteries are easy to replace but I can’t stand on a step stool. If I got the ten yearbattery ones, that would save some handyman visits. But in reading reviews on Amazon, some say they started to chirp immediately. I don’t mind if they don’t last a full ten years..just trying to avoid the chirps,behich woukd drive me insane. Any thoughts?
First of all, don't buy them on Amazon. Go to a local hardware store - not a big box - and have someone who has worked there awhile look you in the eye and share the feedback he or she has received about the various options.
Secondly, if you can't get on a stool to change the batteries, I'm guessing that getting on a stool to test the smoke alarm is an issue as well. That being the case, I'd stick with traditional batteries so that the person who comes in to change the batteries annually can test them at the same time.
If having someone come in to do it annually is cost-prohibitive, look at other options. In spite of what we see on the news and social media, most people are still willing to help somebody out who needs it. If a widow in my neighborhood asked me to perform some small task like this I'd be happy to help her out at no charge, and I hardly think I'm any more generous with my time than most people,
I’ve found First Alert to be the best brand for smoke detectors and their customer service is excellent!
The devices themselves should be replaced every 10 years and usually just unscrew from the wall mount bade that can remain in place as it’s attached to the wall or ceiling.
If you replace the 9v battery on a “hard wired” smoke head once a year, that’s overkill but the safest way to go.
Thanks, everyone. Duster, point well taken about having batteries replaced so they can be tested once or twice a year. But you are different than most people. My husband also was happy to help people who needed it, but nowadays that’s rare. And in my over 55 community, most are w omen and even older than me! And they can barely get their kids to help them! It’s even hard to get a handyman to pay just fir small jobs. But I will keep trying.
Thanks, everyone. Duster, point well taken about having batteries replaced so they can be tested once or twice a year. But you are different than most people. My husband also was happy to help people who needed it, but nowadays that’s rare. And in my over 55 community, most are w omen and even older than me! And they can barely get their kids to help them! It’s even hard to get a handyman to pay just fir small jobs. But I will keep trying.
Contact a local fire department. They may know of or have volunteers who will test/replace smoke detectors free of charge. There are community fire safety incentive programs that fund such services.
Contact a local fire department. They may know of or have volunteers who will test/replace smoke detectors free of charge. There are community fire safety incentive programs that fund such services.
Or even offer a small donation to the fire department since they are always willing to help especially with life safety devices.
Just today I had a wired smoke detector start to chip. Its nine volt backup battery only had about 7.75 volts. The actual unit was manufactured in 2014, so it was near its end-of-life.
I replaced it with a new combo smoke/carbon monoxide unit that came with a 10-year lithium battery backup (a 9-volt). Never needs to be changed.
You should replace the smoke detectors.
Search the InnerTubes®️ for “smoke detector life”.
Go with what Dave says.
Smoke have a lifespan and become less sensitive to smoke, averaging about ten years. For combo smoke/carbon monoxide detectors, the lifespan is shorter in length.
Most models now begin chirping when this occurs and will not stop until batteries are out (if battery only) or batteries taken out and unplugged (if hardwired units). If hardwired and interconnected to other units, all units need to be replaced.
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