How Often To Change Smoke Detectors. Ionization smoke detectors are best at detecting the small particles typical of fast, flaming fires but in our tests, all tested poorly for detecting smoky, smoldering fires. How often should i check my smoke detectors?
Your alarms are overdue for replacement, according to the national fire protection association, which recommends that you replace a detector when it’s 10 years old. A good way to figure out how often to change the batteries is to know what type your detectors use. This way you can “set it and forget it,” and not worry about replacing batteries for the life of the alarm.
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Since you cannot (and should not) replace the lithium battery, replace the entire smoke alarm according to the manufacturer's instructions. It might seem like too much, but what many people don’t realize is that smoke detectors run 24/7. They can be checked once a month with batteries replaced at least once or even twice a year, according to the u.s. This can be extremely helpful if you have a vacation home or rentals and can be tied to the security system.