Smoke Alarm Battery Replacement
 

Is the TV Fire Department still available to replace smoke alarm batteries? Not sure if Covid has had an impact on this great service. If yes, how do you contact them?

Thank you.

Google is your friend

The last time I checked, they are not doing the service. Here is where to call.

The Villages Fire Rescue, 352-205-8280

:oops: So is the District Web Site !

VCDD Public Safety

And it says:

Services Provided

Fire Suppression ● Emergency Medical Response ● High Angle Rope Rescue ● Confined Space Rescue ● Trench Collapse Rescue ● Vehicle Machinery Rescue (extrication) ● Structural Collapse Rescue ● Water Rescue ● A Technical Rescue Team that is part of Florida Light Technical Rescue Team 417 (LTRT 417) ● Operations Level Hazardous Materials Response ● Fire Prevention (including Public Education Programs) ● Smoke Detector Battery Changes

Do we really need to take up their valuable time in changing batteries?

Do you not have a neighbor who is young/agile enough to ask to do the job for you?

Assuming you have the batteries to hand, it takes a few minutes to do the whole house and is hardly a life-threatening exercise for many in The Villages.

Leave the Fire Department to fight fires and save lives.

Some smoke detectors are very difficult to change the batteries due to their design. The FD encourages seniors to use their services.

Thank you, John41, I wasn't aware of that.

I assumed that the manufacturers would make it easy to undertake the regular replacement.

Totally agree. The thought of having a member of the FD change a bettery for me is totally out of my realm of thinking. You must have one friend!

You are fortunate to be healthy enough to climb a ladder. Our neighbor lost his balance and hit his head on the floor got a concussion and had cognitive issues thereafter. Also our doctor warns us “ don’t break a hip” because of the future complications at our age. So that is why the FD would prefer you call them than have to send out an emergency team. If you need the help don’t be ashamed to ask.

Seriously?
 

As a 27 year professional and now retired firefighter I can tell you this.
If you are frail and have health issues the fire department is happy to assist with your battery replacement. They will come and do it even if you are not. Why? Because firefighters are inherently good above what we expect to be normal. They will smile and be polite, even to a cheap healthy individual looking for a free battery. Get real. If you can play golf, pickle ball, do you line dance and exercise class then change your own battery and while you are at it hook up the vacuum cleaner hose and brush attachment then vacuum the dust on it and around it. People who really need assistance or have physical limitation or are just plain abnormally ignorant should get this service.

How far do you drive for a free hotdog?

I called Public Safety and was told the are NOT doing this service because of COVID so you will have to find another way to get it done.

During Covid they have discontinued this service. The good news is that your smoke alarm is probably hard wired and is operational. The battery is a backup.

Grrrrrr. Was your note intended to be helpful?

When did you lose your "inherently good" ??
Some people who play golf (some even play from a lift chair) can not climb a ladder.
Some people who (do that thing called) line dance, can not climb ladders.
Some people who (God bless them) exercise, can not climb a ladder.

Grrrr... was your note intended to be helpful? Are the fireman in TV so busy - that some of them might enjoy the opportunity to meet some of the people they serve - and - if an issue arises - they can race to the event?

Stop by a Villages fire station while out running errands. You probably drive by several every day.

It's true that the battery is a backup, but when the battery dies, the smoke alarm will start to beep every few seconds and it will never stop until you replace the battery. It will drive you crazy, but at least your house won't burn down.

So many to chose from,,,,,,which one did you mean?

They are not doing the battery change service during the pandemic.

No, some of us do not, they make me nervous and some are up quite high

The people that change the batteries are not firefighters

I wonder who those guys in the red truck were. They changed my neighbors batteries last week. Maybe just some contractors who had a red truck. I only saw it from the back but my neighbor said "they were with the fire dept."

Oh for goodness sake...some residents of TV are not in the position or in good health to replace these batteries. Call me anytime, and I'll replace them for you without charge. You buy the batteries...they are usually 9v...and I'll plan with you for a mutually convenient time to come out and replace them. Geez...why hasn't anyone of your neighbors volunteered to do this. Shame on you!!!! George T. 352/661-7069.

I agree. This is not a job for the Fire Department, or any Government entity, funded by taxpayers. If you can't do it yourself, hire someone to do it. It's not really a fire safety issue, because when the batteries start beeping, the homeowner is going to find some way to replace them. I would suggest using lithium batteries that will last about 10 years, which is the recommended life span for the smoke detector itself.

Yes, many of us do need them to change out our batteries and it is a service they gladly give to us. That does save lives and it is life-threatening if you have a fire and your smoke detectors are not working.. My neighbors are older than I am, I have vaulted ceilings so need a 8 foot ladder and suffer from vertigo so if I did it myself would fall, I live alone, so who would find me? It is a service they provide. I agree if you have regular height ceilings you can do it yourself, but high ceilings it's too dangerous for me and for my neighbors. I'm amazed anyone would even complain about this. There is a reason the fire department offers this service, it is to save lives and homes. Let them do their work protecting us.

My dad was a volunteer firefighter for over 50 years and both my parents were EMS. My dad changed out plenty of batteries for elderly residents without ever complaining and my mom was driving residents to their doctor’s appointments up until a few years ago when my sister took over. My parents are in their 90s now and I certainly wouldn’t want them on a ladder. If you’ve been woken by a chirping alarm in the middle of the night, you certainly know how annoying they can be. I’m glad my parents have someone they can call when my sister can’t get there.

Funny this topic came up...Recently, my alarm starting chirping. I changed the battery and thought that was the end of that. A few days later, the chirping began again. I put in another battery and tested it. All quiet. A week later, it started chirping. So I got out the paperwork and discovered that five quick chirps means the device has gone bad and if not replaced a constant alarm will sound. My house is 7 years old. The paperwork states replacement is required 7-10 years. Good thing you can buy them in packs of 5. Egad! I’d hate for these things to go off; they are crazy loud.

I agree. Seniors can exercise it’s the issue of falling from a height.

Must be a new advanced smoke alarm. I've never seen one that will prevent your house from burning down. They are effective at alerting any occupants of smoke in the house though.

:1rotfl:
:1rotfl:
:1rotfl:

NOT VERY NICE! :censored:

FREE! Did you say free? Watch out Joey Chestnut.......:icon_wink:

True but when the battery dies the Detector will beep to let u know the battery needs to be replaced.

Yes, and it will continue to beep forever because the beeping is powered by your house power source, not the battery. Who is going to tolerate that?