Smoke Detectors
 

Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Mr Fixit eh

"Mr Fixit eh" wrote:
Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Depends on how often you like to get up in the middle of the night to track down
that annoying once-a-minute "low battery" beep.

Yeah, sure, once a year is usually fine. Heck, spend some dinero on the
fancy-dancy lithium batteries, and then don't mess with them at all until the
10-year lifetime of the detector is up.

"Mr Fixit eh" wrote in message
oups.com...
Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Mr Fixit eh


A couple of bucks for peace of mind seems like a no brainer to me. But
then, I usually always seem to wait until they start chirping.

Just like AC filters. Each time, I say that "next time" I am not going to
wait so long, and then I do..............

Steve

On 10 Feb 2005 12:10:40 -0800, "Mr Fixit eh"
wrote:

Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Mr Fixit eh


I thought most have battery sensors that make it chirp to tell you the
battery is getting low???

"Andy Hill" wrote in message
...
"Mr Fixit eh" wrote:
Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Depends on how often you like to get up in the middle of the night to
track down
that annoying once-a-minute "low battery" beep.

Yeah, sure, once a year is usually fine. Heck, spend some dinero on the
fancy-dancy lithium batteries, and then don't mess with them at all until
the
10-year lifetime of the detector is up.


Why is it that they always chirp in the middle of the night...my experience
too....seems like too much of a coincidence....Ross

"Ross Mac" wrote in message
...

"Andy Hill" wrote in message
...
"Mr Fixit eh" wrote:
Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Depends on how often you like to get up in the middle of the night to
track down
that annoying once-a-minute "low battery" beep.

Yeah, sure, once a year is usually fine. Heck, spend some dinero on the
fancy-dancy lithium batteries, and then don't mess with them at all until
the
10-year lifetime of the detector is up.


Why is it that they always chirp in the middle of the night...my
experience too....seems like too much of a coincidence....Ross

temps go down at night. battery thus has less charge. when it's on the edge,
that's enough to trigger the chirp.

On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 16:02:23 -0500, "Ross Mac"
wrote:

|
| "Andy Hill" wrote in message
| ...
| "Mr Fixit eh" wrote:
| Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
| every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
| that often.
|
| Depends on how often you like to get up in the middle of the night to
| track down
| that annoying once-a-minute "low battery" beep.
|
| Yeah, sure, once a year is usually fine. Heck, spend some dinero on the
| fancy-dancy lithium batteries, and then don't mess with them at all until
| the
| 10-year lifetime of the detector is up.
|
|
| Why is it that they always chirp in the middle of the night...my experience
| too....seems like too much of a coincidence....Ross

They hate us. They know that if there is a fire we will leave them
behind.

Mr Fixit eh wrote:

Is it really necessary to change the batteries in
the smoke detector every six months? I would think
once a year would be plenty, if even that often.

Only if someone didn't put in an alkaline battery but instead installed
a carbon-zinc or carbon-chloride type, which should never be used
because of the poor shelf life. For alkaline batteries, every 2 years
is adequate. Lithium batteries will last 10 years but should be used
only in smoke detectors designed for them because the low voltage
warning calibration is slightly different for them than for alkalines.

Mr Fixit eh wrote:
Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Mr Fixit eh


No, it isn't. The smoke detector will tell you when it
needs new batteries. When it does tell you (annoying beep),
change the battery. Always use Duracell or equivalent
alkaline type battery. Not all detectors use the same
amount of electricity. Batteries in my detectors all last
longer than a year and some last over 2-1/2 years. Put a
piece of masking tape on the battery when you put it in the
detector and write the date on it. Then you will know how
long they last.

Ross Mac wrote:
"Andy Hill" wrote in message
...

"Mr Fixit eh" wrote:

Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.


Depends on how often you like to get up in the middle of the night to
track down
that annoying once-a-minute "low battery" beep.

Yeah, sure, once a year is usually fine. Heck, spend some dinero on the
fancy-dancy lithium batteries, and then don't mess with them at all until
the
10-year lifetime of the detector is up.



Why is it that they always chirp in the middle of the night...my experience
too....seems like too much of a coincidence....Ross


It isn't always during the night, it's just that the TV is
on too loud during the day to hear the chirping.

Subject: Smoke Detectors
Newsgroup: alt.home.repair
= Mr Fixit eh = wrote:

Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.


Just change them every year (not 6 months) , or if they chirp before that.

A good time to change them is when you set your clocks back or forward for
daylight savings time. (make it a routine)

Don't listen to these other cheap *******s. Your life and property are worth a
few dollars a year for fresh batteries.
--

-Graham

Remove the snails to email

Mr Fixit eh wrote:
Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Mr Fixit eh

I test my detectors (that's what the little test button is for) the
first of every month. Then I replace all of the batteries when one of
them fails.

Bill Gill

I've gotten into putting a little sticker on the smoke detector itself,
that way I don't even have to open it up.

I just have to remember to look at the sticker now :-)

Steve

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 13:59:50 GMT, Bill wrote:

Mr Fixit eh wrote:
Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Mr Fixit eh

I test my detectors (that's what the little test button is for) the
first of every month. Then I replace all of the batteries when one of
them fails.

Bill Gill


When one fails, does that mean you have batteries going dead, and no
warning? Scarey stuff.


later,

tom @ www.ChopURL.com

wrote:
On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 13:59:50 GMT, Bill wrote:


Mr Fixit eh wrote:

Is it really necessary to change the batteries in the smoke detector
every six months? I would think once a year would be plenty, if even
that often.

Mr Fixit eh


I test my detectors (that's what the little test button is for) the
first of every month. Then I replace all of the batteries when one of
them fails.

Bill Gill



When one fails, does that mean you have batteries going dead, and no
warning? Scarey stuff.


later,

tom @ www.ChopURL.com



Jumping to (wrong) conclusions again. He said "when one
(meaning a battery) fails." He didn't say when the unit
fails the test.

George E. Cawthon wrote:

When one fails, does that mean you have batteries going dead, and no
warning? Scarey stuff.


later,

tom @ www.ChopURL.com



Jumping to (wrong) conclusions again. He said "when one (meaning a
battery) fails." He didn't say when the unit fails the test.

In fact the battery going out is what causes the unit to fail the test.
The unit test is primarily a battery test. As far as I know there
is no way to test the detector, except of course to build a fire under it.

Bill Gill

"Bill" wrote in message
om...
George E. Cawthon wrote:

When one fails, does that mean you have batteries going dead, and no
warning? Scarey stuff.


later,

tom @ www.ChopURL.com



Jumping to (wrong) conclusions again. He said "when one (meaning a
battery) fails." He didn't say when the unit fails the test.

In fact the battery going out is what causes the unit to fail the test.
The unit test is primarily a battery test. As far as I know there is no
way to test the detector, except of course to build a fire under it.

Bill Gill

When the smoke detector goes off in our house the usual chant is "Dinners
Ready"!!........Ross

Bill wrote:
George E. Cawthon wrote:

When one fails, does that mean you have batteries going dead, and no
warning? Scarey stuff.


later,

tom @ www.ChopURL.com



Jumping to (wrong) conclusions again. He said "when one (meaning a
battery) fails." He didn't say when the unit fails the test.


In fact the battery going out is what causes the unit to fail the test.
The unit test is primarily a battery test. As far as I know there is
no way to test the detector, except of course to build a fire under it.

Bill Gill

Now you've got me confused. I think the test is more of a
circuit test than a battery test; its already got a built in
battery check--the chirp. I've never tried to test a unit
after the unit signals a low battery with chirps, but I bet
it will still test good. If a unit fails the test without
every chirping, I think something is wrong.

Sure you can test them and some manufactures give the
instructions for that particular unit. If you have a
barbecue, you can figure out how to test the smoke unit.