OT: Smoke alarm batteries, When do you change your batteries? Options

[Pam]

I recently had a debate with a person who shall remain nameless and owns a purple car. We disagreed on the most common time to change smoke alarm batteries. Please participate in this poll to help prove that I am right. If you do not wish to participate - please accept this as a reminder to take a few minutes to check the batteries in your smoke alarms to protect your home and family.

Thanks - Pam

[GWN7]

The official answer is: test once a month and change the batteries during Fire Prevention week.

Which is October 7-13, this year.

It is also a good idea to vacume the dust out of them at this time too.

One alarm per level is recommended.

A CO2 detector is recommended also. So you wake up the next day when your furnace malfunctions. If you have any gas fired appliance (water heater, cook stove) in your home you should have one.

Note*..A quick look on the net shows their are several recommendations as to when to change your batteries....some say twice a year when the times change (recommended by a battery company). Others say once a year in the fall when time changes, another says spring time when the time changes. All say test once a month.

[jimtab]

Get hard wired with a rechargeable battery, its the new code here and a hell of a good idea.

[drewvw]

I change 'em when they start beepin....been doing that recently.

[914-8]

never. the heat and smoke will wake me up.

[dgw]

When they start beeping. Otherwise they must be OK. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Mine are hardwired, but not with rechargeable batteries.

Power outages are a way of life where i live.

[daveyboybadion]

We recommend you change your smoke detector batteries once a year, when you when you Fall back from daylight savings time. That is the official line from my organization the Seattle Fire Dept. We have a program to offer free smoke detectors for the elderly, disabled people and low income households. The home must be owner ocupied.
It is always a tragedy compounded when people die in a fire and then the Fire Investigators find that the smoke detectors while functional didn't have working batteries in them...daveyboy

[army dude]

Before I was activated for the Iraq Conflict I was a Deputy Fire Chief and Director of the Emergency Management Agency for my county and we would put out in teaching and public service announcements that it was best to clean them off monthly, test them as well and replace batteries when you change the time. I also am a huge, huge fan of hard wired detectors and CO alarms as well.
So, always be prepared!! It looks like everybody is following well and doing great. You never want to see the results of the ones that don't work and the people it affects.

Ian in Iraq...Again
17 days till in the end of my second tour

[akellym]

Mine are hard wired as well and let you know when it's time to change the back up batts. They are also dual sensor alarms!

[Ferg]

It's not purple it's aubergine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I vote Daylight savings

[Betty]

Pam,

Tell me which way you voted and I'll vote that way too. Us girls need to stick together!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[GWN7]

We recommend you change your smoke detector batteries twice a year, when you Spring forward and again when you Fall back. That is the official line from my organization the Seattle Fire Dept. It is always a tragedy compounded when people die in a fire and then the Fire Investigators find that the smoke detectors while functional didn't have working batteries in them...daveyboy

We had one were the smoke detector was buzzing away in the box that was under the Christmas tree. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Local 867 IAFF


*Menards has them for $2.98 this week if anyone needs

[Mark Henry]

Should I have a CO2 detector on each level?
I have a DV propane fireplace/stove on each level.

Is it worth having the leak detector? I've been told I'll smell it (leak, not CO2, you can't smell CO2) before it goes off.

[dagdal1967]

Should I have a CO2 detector on each level?
I have a DV propane fireplace/stove on each level.

Is it worth having the leak detector? I've been told I'll smell it (leak, not CO2, you can't smell CO2) before it goes off.

I've been told by a friend of mine that used to be a fire-marshall and fire investigation specialist that CO2 detectors should be in EVERY BEDROOM.

Doug

[sww914]

Those things have batteries?

[Mark Henry]

Should I have a CO2 detector on each level?
I have a DV propane fireplace/stove on each level.

Is it worth having the leak detector? I've been told I'll smell it (leak, not CO2, you can't smell CO2) before it goes off.

I've been told by a friend of mine that used to be a fire-marshall and fire investigation specialist that CO2 detectors should be in EVERY BEDROOM.

Doug

At $50 a pop that would be a bit spendy....The one downstairs is 5 feet from the DV stove type heater (I don't have forced air)

Those things have batteries?

They plug into an outlet...battery back-up and yes they need to be changed once a year..

[Joe Ricard]

How about when the beeping drives me nuts.

Hey it's battery back up. primary power comes from the 115 breaker panel.

[Zaney]

Never, it keeps me in business... JUST KIDDING! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)
Please, change them with the clocks! Also, take a vacuum/dust to them every month or so. Especially, after home projects that make a lot of dust!

This has been a public service ........ Back to your regular 914 programming (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

Nate
2829 IAFF

[Flat VW]

There are a couple of ten year lithium batteries available for smoke alarms.

I prefer this one.
(IMG:http://www.batteriesplus.com/images/Product/large/35266.jpg)

Smoke detectors should be replaced every ten years according to the makers.

A ten year battery to go along with a device with a ten year life just makes sense, especially if the devices are mounted up high or in difficult locations that do not lend themselves to simple service.

The makers of some smoke alarms are designing their devices to indicate when the ten year mark has passed,-- by beeping!


Got Beeping? - call me.

John


P.S. We in fire prevention fight fires BEFORE they happen! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rocking nana.gif)

P.P.S. Most home smoke alarms are of the 'ionization type' and disregard dust as a nuisance alarm source, 'photo-electric' alarms are a different story.
Vacuuming to keep the smoke portals free of debris will only help in either case.

P.P.P.S. Most makers of smoke alarms require a weekly test. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
Who has tested their home smoke alarms this week?

[GWN7]

CO2 detectors come in various styles. Some are just battery, some are bat/110v and others are hardwired only. They can build up a residualy charge of CO2 which will cause them to go off. Sometimes they can be zeroed out by removing them to a outside area for a few days, but if a unit goes off and your local department comes and checks out the CO2 levels in your home and they find a 0 reading why not replace them.

If a unit costs $35 and it works for 5 years that works out to less than 2 cents a day to protect your familys life.

As to having more than one CO2 unit in a home, the co2 builds to a point where it effects the O2 level in the home, that is what sets the unit off. Unless you have airtight rooms in your home one should be sufficent.

That is not what is recommended for Smoke detectors where one per level is recommeded. The smoke rises to the highest level on a floor and if you have a unit per floor this will allow you enough time to get out alive.

As to a leak detector, yes you will smell it ....if your awake.....if you have a leak and a spark you won't have to worry about smelling it.

It boils down to personal safety, how much you figure is safe enough, is that seat belt good enought or do you need a shoulder harness.

Personally I think a moat with alligators is the best home defence, but they don't allow them to be imported up here.