An Irritating Chirp in the Night
Several minutes later, another chirp – I knew the
battery in my smoke detector in the hall was dying
– it was time to get up because this was not going
to stop on its own. After hauling a ladder from the
garage, climbing up and disconnecting it and going
back to bed – another chirped. It became obvious
these were the hard-wired electrically-connected
smoke detectors installed when the house was
built in 2005. As the chorus of alarms continued, I
called 911 asking for a non-emergency number for
-
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ment was sent out to assist – at 4:30 a.m.
hard wire alarms should be replaced every ten
quick online visit to Amazon, I ordered four and
came back and installed them for me. What an
awesome public safety service -- for free!
wired smoke detectors have back-up batteries
which should be tested once a month and replaced
once a year.
Fire Department Services
and check your smoke detectors during the day. In
many cases, they will replace your battery-operat-
emergency number to schedule an appointment.
If the electrical power goes out in your home,
it’s critical that even your hard-wired smoke detec-
functioning smoke alarms.
How to Remember to Replace the Battery in a
Hard Wired Smoke Detector
batteries each November when you set your clocks
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ducts public service announcements each year to
remind us to change smoke detector batteries.
So, whenever your clocks “fall back,” change
your smoke detector battery.
Other options for remembering to change your
battery include marking your new calendar at the
beginning of each year. You can also set reminders
in your smartphone’s calendar app. Marking
either your paper or electronic calendar is also a
good way to remember to test your smoke detector’s
battery each month. Some people replace
their battery on January 1st of each year and then
that. Whatever you can do to make a regular habit
of changing and testing your battery is a good idea!
If You are Renting Your Home or Apartment
Check with your landlord to see when the
smoke detector was installed. If the landlord is
uncertain, check the unit itself for date of manufacture.
All smoke detectors, including hard wired
units, should be replaced every ten years. If you’re
unsure when the battery was last replaced, replace
it immediately and then once yearly after that.
And don’t forget to test the battery every month!
Keep this is mind—and sleep well.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
ENDS ON NOVEMBER 3.
1. Set your clocks back one hour.
2. Be sure to have the batteries
changed in your smoke and
carbon monoxide alarms.
Hint: call your local fire department’s
non-emergency number for
assistance.
November-December 2019 7