Smoke Detectors Have a Shelf Life

12/11/2015 (Permalink)

It's a great habit to replace the battery in your smoke detector annually.

But did you know that smoke detectors lose their effectiveness over time? The US Fire Administration says that most smoke detectors today have a life span of about 8-10 years. At that point, the entire unit should be replaced. When you replace the unit, write the date purchased on the inside with a sharpie to have on record.

A smoke detector is an essential component of your home's safety equipment and having at least one smoke detector means that your surroundings are safer. That’s great, but you just need to take the necessary steps to keep your smoke detector in proper working order and that doesn't necessarily mean doings a whole home smoke detector replacement, but rather checking and replacing their batteries. Generally your smoke detector will let you know if the battery is low. If your smoke detector keeps chirping or there is a blinking red light you might need to change the battery. The smoke detector red light could also indicate that your system is over 10 years old and needs to be replaced. A hard wired smoke detector with a red blinking light could indicate that there’s a problem with the wire connection. If you’re not sure it might be a good idea to do a quick search on the internet to find out.