How often do you change the batteries in your smoke detectors?
batteries August 13th, 2009Every time we begin and end Daylight Savings Time, as the battery manufacturers would like you to think is necessary, even though those batteries last 2 years and more? Even though the detectors have ways to test battery viability? Do you recycle those batteries and their toxic components? How many tons of heavy metals go needlessly into the waste stream when we "fall back"?
You don’t have to replace them twice a year, just test them (by pushing the test button on your detector). There are ten year batteries available, then you just test it every six months and you should only have to replace the batteries every ten years or so. A lot less heavy metal waste.
August 13th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Fire departments have no financial interest in battery makers, but they recommend the twice-a-year (time-change) replacements, so I’m inclined to take their advice.
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August 13th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Me, I change the all the batteries when one of the alarms starts to chirp. They usually last a couple of years.
The alkaline batteries are not the worst stuff out there. (Think Ni-Cad). But, at least around here, they have quasi-madatory recycling for batteries.
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August 13th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I usually change the smoke detectors one to ttwo times a year.
most detectors give off some sort of signal whenever it has low battery.
If they are ordinary batteries you can throw them in the trash.
don’t recycle.
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August 13th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
they last pretty long. i moved into this house 4 years ago and they are still working.
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August 13th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
You don’t have to replace them twice a year, just test them (by pushing the test button on your detector). There are ten year batteries available, then you just test it every six months and you should only have to replace the batteries every ten years or so. A lot less heavy metal waste.
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August 13th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
The smoke alarms in my house are on the house wiring and only use the batteries as a backup. I wait till they chirp. I keep all spent batteries till I have enough to take to the city recycling and hazardous waste depot.
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