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A working smoke alarm cuts your risk of dying in a home fire in half. Nearly all alarm failures are caused by missing or dead batteries. For the best protection, install a combination hard-wired alarm with battery back-up.
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For more tips like these: This is part of our ongoing series on the basics of owning a home. Don’t wait for the chirp. Like opening your mail or cleaning out your coffee pot, changing your smoke alarm batteries tends to land on the list of things you’ll get to one day. But it’s a pretty important task (as is opening your mail, heh heh) and it’s never too late to get in the habit. One way to remember is with the simple phrase, “change your clocks, change your batteries.” When you turn the clocks back after Daylight Saving Time ends in the fall, switch out the batteries in your smoke alarms. Yep, just once a year — not so bad, right? But it’s a good idea to test them once a month, too. It’ll give you peace of mind that they’re in good working condition. But what about your other questions, like which batteries are the best to buy, and when should you switch out the alarms themselves? Below is a brief dive into the science of maintaining smoke alarms. Which batteries do smoke detectors need?Most use 9-volt alkaline (you know, those rectangular boxes with two prongs at the end?) but some use AA. It’ll be specified in the battery compartments in your smoke alarms, so have a look to be sure. Can you use rechargeable batteries in a smoke detector?Using rechargeable batteries in something as important as a smoke alarm isn’t typically advised, since their charge levels aren’t reliable. Can you use lithium batteries in a smoke detector?Lithium batteries carry more charge than alkaline so they may last longer, but they tend to be more expensive. Plus, you can throw alkaline batteries away in the trash, but lithiums must be recycled at facilities that accept them. Do all smoke detectors need batteries?Yes, but not all can be switched out. Some smoke alarms come with 10-year tamper-free batteries, meaning the battery compartments cannot be opened and the devices can be used for a decade. Others are hardwired to your home’s electrical system and have backup batteries in case you lose power. When should you replace your smoke alarms? The alarms will have expiration dates written on the back, but every 10 years is recommended. Onto the next home maintenance project?
How long does a 9v battery last in a hard wired smoke detector?Hardwired
Hardwired alarms appear to be permanent fixtures in your home but you have to follow the same rules for it as you do other types of alarms. Like with the 9-volt battery models, you will need to change the battery once every year. You will have to have the entire system replaced after ten years.
How often should you change the battery in a hard wired smoke detector?Maintain your alarms
Test smoke alarms every month by pressing their test buttons. If your alarms use regular batteries, swap in fresh batteries at least once a year. A “chirping” sound means that it's time to change batteries. Because alarm sensors wear out, replace each alarm at least every 10 years.
What is the life expectancy of a hard wired smoke detector?Research into their longevity has concluded that hard-wired as well as battery-operated devices should be replaced every 10 years, or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested. The manufacturing industry also recommends that smoke alarm detector heads should be replaced every decade.
What happens if you take the battery out of a hardwired smoke detector?Hardwired alarms often have a battery backup just in case the electrical power goes out. If you take the battery out of one of these units and your power goes out, the alarm will fail to sound and warn you of the danger.
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