To increase the life of your smoke alarm, you should change its battery on a regular basis. Most manufacturers recommend replacing a smoke alarm battery once a year. However, if you are particularly concerned about the safety of your home or family, you should change the battery at least twice a year. To make it easier, try to space the battery changes evenly throughout the year. For instance, you can set a reminder to change the battery at the start of daylight savings time each year.
Cost of replacing a smoke alarm battery
Smoke alarm batteries should be replaced at least once a year. However, many people forget to change them. It is cheaper to purchase a detector with a sealed battery that will last for a decade or more, and will not require replacing the battery. These types of detectors will only cost $20 to $30 more than those with removable batteries, but they will save you money in the long run.
Generally, smoke alarms that use AA or C batteries need to be replaced every eight to ten years. They also need to be tested monthly to ensure they are working. This is particularly important if the alarm has a warning that it needs to be replaced. Fortunately, some manufacturers include instructions on how to change the battery.
You can purchase smoke detectors with a wide range of features and functionality. Some have a hush button or remote-control silencer, while others include a lithium battery that lasts for a longer time. Other detectors even come with strobe alarms for hearing-impaired people. The cost of installing two smoke detectors can run anywhere from $56 to $125, depending on the brand and features. Most smoke detectors are battery operated, and battery replacement costs about $5 to $10 per unit. It’s important to replace the battery regularly, and experts recommend checking batteries when the clocks change for Daylight Savings Time.
Checking the expiration date
If you want to keep your smoke alarm functioning at peak levels, it is important to change the batteries in it regularly. The recommended replacement period is every ten years. It is also a good idea to change the battery in hard-wired units once a year. Smoke alarms should also be tested every month and cleaned annually.
The manufacturers of smoke alarms put the date of manufacture on the back of the unit. If it does not contain this information, it is probably more than 10 years old. You can determine when it is time to replace the battery in your smoke alarm by observing its expiration date.
Checking the quality of a smoke alarm battery
If you are wondering if your smoke alarm battery needs to be replaced, there are several ways to test its quality. First, remove the 9-volt battery from the detector. Next, use an analog multimeter to read its current. Set the scale to higher than nine volts (like ten or twelve), and then attach the needles to the positive and negative posts of the battery. The needles should measure between 4.8 and 9.6 volts.
Some smoke alarms will have a plastic tab on the side of the battery chamber that needs to be folded in when inserting the battery. Also, you should check the battery terminals to ensure they are clean. If they’re corroded, use sandpaper to remove any debris. Then, reinstall the body of the smoke alarm onto its base, and write the date you installed the alarm on the battery.
Checking the quality of a smoke alarm’s battery is very easy and will take only a few seconds. If your alarm isn’t chirping, then there is a problem with the battery. A smoke alarm that uses a nine-volt battery needs to be replaced about every 10 years.
Relocating a smoke alarm away from drafty areas
Keeping your smoke alarm away from drafty areas will keep it from setting off nuisance alarms. Drafty rooms and areas near HVAC registers and ceiling fans can cause smoke to blow through the sensing chamber of a smoke alarm, setting it off. This can be avoided by turning down the thermostat or opening windows.
Another way to keep your smoke alarm from setting off nuisance alarms is to clean it regularly. Dust and debris, including spiderwebs, can clog up the sensing chamber. Regular cleaning with compressed air or a soft vacuum attachment can remove these obstructions. If possible, position the smoke alarm away from drafty areas like bathrooms, kitchens, fireplaces, and ductwork.
It is also recommended to locate your smoke alarm away from drafty areas so that the sound of the alarm can be heard well. Smoke detectors should be installed as close to the center of the ceiling as possible, but at least four inches away from walls and corners. Smoke detectors should also be installed far away from heating and cooling vents.