Should I Change My Smoke Alarm Battery?

8/24/2022 (Permalink)

The value of smoke alarms is undeniable. Help your devices work as they should by keeping the batteries fresh.

When To Refresh the Batteries in Your Home's Alarm

The vast majority of American homes are equipped with fire and smoke alarms. They add security against fire damage and injury, but only when they work. Replacing batteries on time can be the difference between an alarm that is effective and one that fails. When should you do it? Keep reading for tips on when to refresh the batteries in your Kenmore, WA, home’s alarm.

Experts estimate as many as 96 percent of American homes are equipped with either a fire or a smoke detector. But there remains a gap between how many are installed and how many work. As a result:

• Nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths occur in homes with no alarms or alarms that don’t work
• Half of home fires in homes with alarms that failed were due to missing batteries

Fortunately, keeping your device working can be as easy as knowing when to perform basic checks.

Battery Type

Knowing your alarm’s battery type can help you know when to change it. If your home has a newer, lithium-powered battery, you’re good for a decade. Older alarms powered by a 9-volt battery need their batteries replaced annually.

Research Your Device

Smoke detectors don’t last forever. Get familiar with the owner’s manual that comes with your alarm. It can guide you on when your device will need fresh batteries or should be replaced entirely.

Heed the Beep

So-called nuisance alarms - that annoying beep that’s common when a smoke alarm is losing power - are a top reason many homeowners disconnect their devices. Sadly, this can have serious consequences. Instead of ignoring beeping, take it as a sign that it’s time to change the batteries.

The value of smoke alarms is undeniable. Help your devices work as they should by keeping the batteries fresh. Use these tips and any others from your local fire cleanup experts to help keep your alarms working properly.