SMOKE / CD Detectors

[ivanhoe]

I have it on fairly good authority that the local fire department will come to your home and check all the detectors and even install new batteries for you.

Can anyone confirm this or offer a knowledgeable contact.

I do have 7 ' ladder and can accesses them myself for battery replacement but I understand that these detectors are linked electrically and I'm not familiar with this type of protection system.

We are now one year in our pre-owned home and are not sure of the systems readiness level.

Thanks in advance...

[redwitch]

Yes, at least for Sumter County. Simply call 352/205-8280 and they'll have someone come out to replace all batteries for you. You do have to supply the ladder or very tall step stool and you may have to wait a bit for their arrival. They truly are very happy to do this and much prefer that they do it than we "elders" get on a ladder.

[Shimpy]

They are linked but you just need to change the batteries. If there is a problem where one detector picks up smoke the others will also sound off. If you would feel better then call the fire dept. after buying the 9v batteries and have them install them for you.
By the way, the batteries are only back up if there is a power failure as the detectors are hard wired into your electrical system.

[Xavier]

If you happen to get the ladder out and want to check out your alarms, just give each a turn counter-clockwise and you'll have it in your hand. There are wires that you have to disconnect. Turn off the breaker, not a big deal, BUT, if you don't feel comfortable messing with the wires, don't do it. There should be a date on each alarm. If it is 7 years or older on the smoke alarms, they need to be replaced. It will be 10 years on the CO alarm. The CO alarm is not tied into the smoke alarms. I bought the replacements at Wholesale Lighting | Energy Efficient Lighting | Electrical Marketplace, Inc. (http://www.electricalmarketplace.com/)

Xavier

[DangeloInspections]

I agree with the previous posts, and will add the following;

If you are the type that may not always remember to replace these batteries, or if you wish to do this less often without compromising protection, then you may want to consider upgrading the 9 volt batteries with Lithium batteries.

Lithium batteries last much longer, so they do not need to be changed as often.

Also, if you do plan on replacing the smoke detectors when they get 7 years old or older, it is a good idea. The NFPA recommends this. I recommend that you consider upgrading to the newer better Photoelectric smoke alarms, as they have been proven to save more lives then the less expensive ionization detectors currently in most homes in The Villages.

There have been other threads on this subject, just do a search here on it. They also make a combo photoelectric/ionization detector.

Both sense a fire different ways....to keep things simple here, one is better with a flame fire, and one is better for a slow, smoldering fire.

Without getting too much into this, if you plan on upgrading smoke detectors, it is statistically better to buy the Photoelectric ones.....

Hope this helps,

Frank

[zcaveman]

If you happen to get the ladder out and want to check out your alarms, just give each a turn counter-clockwise and you'll have it in your hand. There are wires that you have to disconnect. Turn off the breaker, not a big deal, BUT, if you don't feel comfortable messing with the wires, don't do it. There should be a date on each alarm. If it is 7 years or older on the smoke alarms, they need to be replaced. It will be 10 years on the CO alarm. The CO alarm is not tied into the smoke alarms. I bought the replacements at Wholesale Lighting | Energy Efficient Lighting | Electrical Marketplace, Inc. (http://www.electricalmarketplace.com/)

Xavier

What is this turning of the case and wires all about? In all of my smoke and CO2 alarms, the batteries are in a snap out compartment. All I do is pull on the tab and the battery compartment snaps out - I pull out the old battery - insert the new battery - close the cover - and hit the test button.

Am I doing it wrong?

Z

[DangeloInspections]

Z.....you are not doing anything wrong. It appears he was describing how to change out or replace an older smoke alarm.....not just a battery. You are indeed correct that it is that simple to replace the 9 volt battery. You just open the door and stick a new one in, making sure you are installing it in the same orientation as the old one.

Frank

[buggyone]

[QUOTE=zcaveman;855568]What is this turning of the case and wires all about? In all of my smoke and CO2 alarms, the batteries are in a snap out compartment. All I do is pull on the tab and the battery compartment snaps out - I pull out the old battery - insert the new battery - close the cover - and hit the test button. "

Nope, you are doing things right. Of course, the alarms are for smoke and carbon MONOXIDE which is CO. Carbon Dioxide is CO2 and in normal concentrations is harmless. No extra charge for the chemistry lesson. :wave:

Two families I know went to one of those "free dinner" presentations by some flim-flam photoionization smoke detector companies. After hearing the scare speech and seeing a movie about people burned up, both families bought the detectors. One bought $2,000 worth (6 detectors, I think) and one bought a few more and spent over $2,800.

You can get the same thing at Home Depot or Lowe's for around $45 each. The photo-ionization detector is a good thing to have, but no reason to pay the prices my friends did.

[zcaveman]

[QUOTE=zcaveman;855568]What is this turning of the case and wires all about? In all of my smoke and CO2 alarms, the batteries are in a snap out compartment. All I do is pull on the tab and the battery compartment snaps out - I pull out the old battery - insert the new battery - close the cover - and hit the test button. "

Nope, you are doing things right. Of course, the alarms are for smoke and carbon MONOXIDE which is CO. Carbon Dioxide is CO2 and in normal concentrations is harmless. No extra charge for the chemistry lesson. :wave:

Oops - Thanks for the correction.

Z

[Xavier]

What is this turning of the case and wires all about? In all of my smoke and CO2 alarms, the batteries are in a snap out compartment. All I do is pull on the tab and the battery compartment snaps out - I pull out the old battery - insert the new battery - close the cover - and hit the test button.

Am I doing it wrong?

Z

Z: Not at all. Changing the batteries is about as easy as it can be, but if I remember correctly, the OP said they had been in their pre-owned home for a year. We bought a pre-owned as well and it took us a couple of years to discover that all of the units were significantly out of date. Of course, because of Murphy's Law, they always acted up at 3 AM. I also discovered that the CO alarm was installed in the incorrect location and the one smoke alarm was not tied into the others.

Regarding a couple of the other posts: The batteries really don't necessarily need changing every year since the alarms are all primarily powered by regular electrical current. It is really easy to check the battery voltage with a cheap multimeter (with a coupon, you can get one free at Harbor Freight). The batteries only kick in when your power goes out. That really doesn't happen very often and it almost never lasts very long.

I paid $10 for each replacement smoke alarm and it had been replaced with an updated model. The CO alarm was also upgraded and ran around $34. It probably took me less than a half hour to change all of them.

Xavier

[DangeloInspections]

Just to clarify.....I totally agree with Buggyone's viewpoint of avoiding the "flim-Flam" companies who sell outrageously overpriced smoke detectors and use scare tactics to do so.

When I suggested that anyone who had smoke detectors that are 10 years old or older to upgrade them with the newer photoelectric or dual photoelectric/ionization ones I was assuming one would just buy them and install them themselves or hire a good handyperson to do so.

These can be bought at amazon for about $30.00 each.

I forgot those rip off folks were out there and did not want anyone to think I actually endorsed them.

Thanks, Frank

[BobandMarilyn]

Our home has combination CO/ionization units in the bedroom hallways, and ionization units in the bedrooms and great room. I am moving the CO/ionization units into the bedrooms and replacing the ionization units with dual photoelectric/ionization units. As long as you stay with the same manufacturer, the change out is pretty simple. In my case, no wiring changes (as they are hardwired units), but the bases must be changed out to accommodate the new dual units.

[PaPaLarry]

[QUOTE=zcaveman;855568]What is this turning of the case and wires all about? In all of my smoke and CO2 alarms, the batteries are in a snap out compartment. All I do is pull on the tab and the battery compartment snaps out - I pull out the old battery - insert the new battery - close the cover - and hit the test button. "

Nope, you are doing things right. Of course, the alarms are for smoke and carbon MONOXIDE which is CO. Carbon Dioxide is CO2 and in normal concentrations is harmless. No extra charge for the chemistry lesson. :wave:

Two families I know went to one of those "free dinner" presentations by some flim-flam photoionization smoke detector companies. After hearing the scare speech and seeing a movie about people burned up, both families bought the detectors. One bought $2,000 worth (6 detectors, I think) and one bought a few more and spent over $2,800.

You can get the same thing at Home Depot or Lowe's for around $45 each. The photo-ionization detector is a good thing to have, but no reason to pay the prices my friends did.
Buggy, I went to that seminar also, and they never told us the price. They leave with you making an appointment for them to stop by house, THEN they hit you with this big charge. Yikes! The detectors you are talking about, are they wireless? Thanks

[ivanhoe]

Thank you all for the input...very helpful here @ TOV...always is..thanks!