smoke alarm

[jblum315]

Is it true that the Fire Dept. will change smoke alarm batteries for me? How do I call them?

[pooh]

That's what they told me. I had them out to the house because we were having trouble with one particular detector and when they arrived, they told us that they thought they were there to change the batteries. Nice fellows and showed up very quickly. We saw Chief Gail Lazenby in town one day and asked about getting someone out to check said detector and the next day, there they were....along with the biggest dam fire engine I ever saw...lol. You can probably call the station nearest to your house or just stop in and ask.

[REDCART]

Changing the batteries in the smoke detectors used in TV is tricky. First you're working on a ladder above your head. The battery door slides open half way and you have to pry the 9v battery out from behind. I don't want to bad mouth China but I'll bet the damn things were made there and no one really cared how difficult it was going to be to change the batteries. If the Fire Dept is willing, it's worth a dozen doughnuts or a donation to their favorite charity.

[Golf-Tinker]

Desmond Harris (Covenant Janitorial) changed them for us when he cleaned the dryer vent. Make it look easy, but he's done many.

[philnpat]

If I wasn't able to change the batteries myself I think I'd either ask a friend, neighbor or handyman to do it for me. I'd feel terrible if an emergency occured while firemen were at my home installing batteries. Replacing batteries for eveyone's detectors in TV would be a full-time job!

[johnfarr]

I had a problem with a smoke detector alarm going off for no apparent reason. I called The Villages FD non-emergency number and a fire truck with 6 men showed up about 10 minutes later. They said that is what they are here for. They checked all of the alarms. It turns out that 4 detectors were no good, which they said is typical in a 6 year old house. I bought new ones at Ace Hardware and now everything is ducky.

Tip: push the "test" button on your smoke detectors when changing batteries.

The staff at The Villages FD has a great attitudes and provides great service.

[swrinfla]

When I had a detector which refused to acknowledge its new battery and kept beeping in that annoying "low battery" way, I called the guys at Public Safety - not 911.

They came out within an hour in, yes, the biggest d*****d fire truck I think I'd ever seen (the whole street had heartburn wondering about what the h*** was going on). With my profuse apologies for having called them out, they smiled and said, in effect, "No problem!"

Quite honestly, even though it seems like a huge imposition, I'd rather have them come because I feel uncomfortable up on an inadequate ladder then to have them come because I've fallen off that ladder! :D

SWR
:beer3:

[dillywho]

They would much rather come change batteries, than find your remains when you didn't get out of a burning house because of faulty alarms.

[LittleDog]

This is probably a little off topic but I have an old fire extinguisher that is at least 7 years old. The gauge shows it is full and I have never used it. Where I used to live the fire department would check extinguishers to see if they were still OK. Do they do that here in TV? I should probably buy a new extinguisher but then the next question would be where do I dispose of the old one?

John

[philnpat]

If I wasn't able to change the batteries myself I think I'd either ask a friend, neighbor or handyman to do it for me. I'd feel terrible if an emergency occured while firemen were at my home installing batteries. Replacing batteries for eveyone's detectors in TV would be a full-time job!

My CO detector intermittantly would chirp as if the battery was bad. I replaced the battery but didn't resolve the problem. I purchased a new one from the hardware store near the Village Golf Cart store on 441. It was identical to the one I had so it fit the profile of the original one. No paint touch up was needed. Just a heads up...the instructions recommended changing the sensors every six years. (not sure what the life of smoke detectors is)

BTW...when I spoke with the manufacturer, they specifically said not to use Ray O Vac batteries when doing the yearly replacement.

[bluedog103]

Is it true that the Fire Dept. will change smoke alarm batteries for me? How do I call them?
Yes, they'll change the batteries. You have to provide the batteries and a ladder though. They say the ladders on their trucks are filthy and don't think you'd be very happy if they put them up against your pretty walls.
They say they'd rather change your batteries than respond to a medical emergency after you fall off your ladder. To reach them just call your local fire house, NOT 911.

[dillywho]

BTW...when I spoke with the manufacturer, they specifically said not to use Ray O Vac batteries when doing the yearly replacement.

Was this for the smoke detectors or both? Thanks for the life expectancy info as well.

[philnpat]

Was this for the smoke detectors or both? Thanks for the life expectancy info as well.

When I spoke with the manufacturing rep we were speaking of the CO detectors...but since they were both made by the same company (and for the life of me I can't remember their name) I buy a multi pack of Duracell or Eveready.

[redwitch]

The fire department definitely prefers that we call them to replace the batteries rather than have us climb up on ladders. They don't always come in the fire engine; they have a service truck just for that purpose. They do want to replace all batteries when they come out, so make sure you have enough batteries available.

Just call 205-8280. Unless they're out on an emergency, they're usually there within 30 minutes.

[Chief29]

If you call 911 and say NOT A EMERGENCY and ask for fire department, they will connect you to regular phone. Then ask if they would check your alarm and replace your battery. They want to replace the battery so that senior's claiming ladder will not fall and they have to come as emergency.
Reference to fire extengisher = once a quartert turn your extengisher up side down and tap it with a rubber hamer tell you feel the powder shift. It will then work when needed.

[philnpat]

Granted many Villagers should not be climbing ladders. That's why I suggested that a neighbor, friend or handyman do it for those who prefer not to climb. With the average home having 6-7 sensors...that's over a quarter million battery replacements that have to be done yearly. Again, if I couldn't climb, I'd rather have a handyman do it for me rather than take time away from our emergency response providers.
I know I may be stubborn (my wife surely thinks I am) but I would think changing batteries should be considered a maintainance item the same as having your dryer vent cleaned which we should be responsible for having done.

[skyguy79]

Granted many Villagers should not be climbing ladders. That's why I suggested that a neighbor, friend or handyman do it for those who prefer not to climb. With the average home having 6-7 sensors...that's over a quarter million battery replacements that have to be done yearly. Again, if I couldn't climb, I'd rather have a handyman do it for me rather than take time away from our emergency response providers.

I know I may be stubborn (my wife surely thinks I am) but I would think changing batteries should be considered a maintainance item the same as having your dryer vent cleaned which we should be responsible for having done.
Phil, I have no issue with your feelings about calling the FD but I would have no problem in calling them since they're willing to do it, feel that it's part of their job and I'm not capable of doing the job myself. As for another emergency occuring while they're there? Well they can respnd just as quickly from your home as they can from the fire house plus I'm sure that they would never leave themselves short of equipment and manpower to respond to an emergency while going to do a battery change. Todays communication abilities are a wonderful thing!

BTW, I was a volunteer fireman for about 5 years and believe it may have been in the district where you currently live in Clifton Park. I'm not quite sure though since I belive (IIRC) that you're located close to the Clifton Park - Halfmoon fire district line. I was in the Clifton Park Fire Department District.
http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz200/pepper2010_bucket/fireman1.gif

[batman911]

I'm wondering why hard wired detectors are not installed when the homes are built. My current home, built in 1979 had hard wired smoke detectors in several locations. No need to ever change batteries and you get a discount on your home insurance as well. I do not believe it would be too expensive to have a hard wired system installed. Do anyone know if that is an option when you buy your home in TV?

[BOMBERO]

I'm wondering why hard wired detectors are not installed when the homes are built. My current home, built in 1979 had hard wired smoke detectors in several locations. No need to ever change batteries and you get a discount on your home insurance as well. I do not believe it would be too expensive to have a hard wired system installed. Do anyone know if that is an option when you buy your home in TV?

What do you do in Waipahu, Hawaii when the power goes out? In the Villages
we have hard wired smoke detectors with battery back-up.

[BOMBERO]

If you call 911 and say NOT A EMERGENCY and ask for fire department, they will connect you to regular phone. Then ask if they would check your alarm and replace your battery. They want to replace the battery so that senior's claiming ladder will not fall and they have to come as emergency.
Reference to fire extengisher = once a quartert turn your extengisher up side down and tap it with a rubber hamer tell you feel the powder shift. It will then work when needed.

Please DON'T call 911. Sneak away from your computer for 5 seconds and look on PAGE 1 of the Villages phone book for the NON-EMERGENCY number.