How often to change hard wired smoke detector batteries

This is part of our ongoing series on the basics of owning a home.

Don’t wait for the chirp.

Like opening your mail or cleaning out your coffee pot, changing your smoke alarm batteries tends to land on the list of things you’ll get to one day. But it’s a pretty important task (as is opening your mail, heh heh) and it’s never too late to get in the habit.

One way to remember is with the simple phrase, “change your clocks, change your batteries.” When you turn the clocks back after Daylight Saving Time ends in the fall, switch out the batteries in your smoke alarms.

Yep, just once a year — not so bad, right? But it’s a good idea to test them once a month, too. It’ll give you peace of mind that they’re in good working condition.

But what about your other questions, like which batteries are the best to buy, and when should you switch out the alarms themselves? Below is a brief dive into the science of maintaining smoke alarms.

Which batteries do smoke detectors need?

Most use 9-volt alkaline (you know, those rectangular boxes with two prongs at the end?) but some use AA. It’ll be specified in the battery compartments in your smoke alarms, so have a look to be sure.

Can you use rechargeable batteries in a smoke detector?

Using rechargeable batteries in something as important as a smoke alarm isn’t typically advised, since their charge levels aren’t reliable.

Can you use lithium batteries in a smoke detector?

Lithium batteries carry more charge than alkaline so they may last longer, but they tend to be more expensive. Plus, you can throw alkaline batteries away in the trash, but lithiums must be recycled at facilities that accept them.

Do all smoke detectors need batteries?

Yes, but not all can be switched out.

Some smoke alarms come with 10-year tamper-free batteries, meaning the battery compartments cannot be opened and the devices can be used for a decade. Others are hardwired to your home’s electrical system and have backup batteries in case you lose power.

When should you replace your smoke alarms?

The alarms will have expiration dates written on the back, but every 10 years is recommended.

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Having smoke detectors installed in your home keep you and your family safe from any incidence of fire outbreak. Your smoke detector could be battery-powered or wired directly into your home’s electrical system. In this article, we will show you how often to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector.

Although almost every smoke detector has a battery even the hardwired detectors do have backup batteries in case there is a power outage in your home.

It is therefore important to change your batteries from time to time to enable your smoke detectors to work optimally without any glitch.

Once you start hearing a chirping noise coming from your smoke detector, then it’s time to change your old and weak batteries. It is however best to replace these batteries in your smoke detectors even before the noise occurs.

The lower the battery gets the louder the smoke detector chirps, this is why it is very important to know when and how to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector and also in the battery-powered smoke detector to prevent casualties in case there is a fire outbreak in your home.

Read Also: How to Fix Chirping or Beeping Smoke Detector

Read on as we take you through a ride on how to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector in this post.

How often to change hard wired smoke detector batteries

Signs that You Need to Replace Smoke Detector’s Battery

Here are the signs to look out for once there’s a need for a battery replacement in your Smoke Detector. Take note that only the smoke detector with a low battery will chirp while the other interconnected alarms should be silent. 

Although, these signs vary from one brand or manufacturer to another. The major differences could be the color of the blinking light, the intensity of the chirping noise, or the pattern of the light, that’s all. Below are the signs:

Red LED Light Blinking

This is one of the common signs users see once there’s a need for battery replacement in the smoke detector. This red light usually blinks at an interval of 30 seconds accompanied by chirps or beeps.

However, the red blinking light could also mean that the unit is powered on or it’s receiving energy. Therefore, you need to consult your user manure to be sure of what the red light is for before assuming it’s for battery replacement.

Loud Chirp or Beep

Some brands of smoke detector usually give a loud chirping noise once the battery gets low and weak. You don’t have to panic! There is no fire anywhere, this is not the alarm triggered, the sound is quite different and distinctive.

However, the majority of the sound detectors today combined signs 1 and 2. Therefore once you see the red light blinks and it’s unusual, ensure you check your battery status.

No Sound During Testing

When you hear a faint sound or even no sound while testing is the last sign that shows your smoke detector needs a battery replacement. This occurs when you long-press the Test button of your smoke detector.

Testing is an effective way to know if the alarm in your detector is armed or active.

How often to change hard wired smoke detector batteries

It is always best to replace your smoke detector battery immediately you start hearing the beeping or chirping sound from your device, instead of waiting till the noise increases which can damage the smoke detector.

The majority of the smoke detector manufacturers recommend replacing the battery at least once a year. However, you should change all of the batteries twice every year at a convenient time.

In case you live in areas that use daylight savings time, this can be used as a reminder for replacing the battery. So that within a year, you can replace the battery once while switching to daylight savings time, then replace it a second time when turning back to standard time.

Recommended: To keep a healthy smoke detector, replace the battery every 6 months. That is how often to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector.

How often to change hard wired smoke detector batteries

How to Replace Battery in Hardwired Smoke Detector

Replacing batteries in Smoke detectors vary from one model to another, but the following steps are the essential and easy steps on how to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector:

  • You need a ladder or chair to access the smoke detector as most of these devices are mounted on the ceiling or high on a wall.
  • To replace the battery, most smoke detectors have to be detached from the ceiling, although some have a front-loading door. All you need to do is twist the detector counter-clockwise.
  • The smoke detector will then be removed, with the mounting plate remaining on the ceiling.
  • Some smoke detectors are designed to be tamper-resistant to prevent children from removing the device all by themselves, therefore, you need to disengage the locking pin.
  • Replace the smoke detector’s battery as directed by the instruction manual.
  • Afterward, place the smoke detector back in the mounting bracket and gently twist clockwise, and the smoke detector will be engaged to its mounting plate.
  • Finally, test the smoke detector with the testing button that is usually located on the unit’s face.
  • That’s all!

Now, you have been able to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector successfully.

How often to change hard wired smoke detector batteries

How to Test Smoke Detector Battery

At least once every month in a year, it is recommended you test your smoke detectors to be sure they are working effectively. If your smoke alarm uses a nine-volt battery, then the battery should be replaced regularly like every six months, while the smoke detector itself should be replaced once every ten years or before it expires.

If you have the ten-year lithium-powered smoke alarms, you don’t have to replace the battery. Instead, replace the whole alarm after ten years of using them. In case your smoke detector is hardwired into your home’s electrical system, then you will also need to replace the backup battery at least every six months and replace the unit itself every ten years. 

The smoke alarms in your home play a very important role in keeping you and your family safe by alerting you of possible dangers ahead. It’s however quite underrated, but the battery in your smoke detector is very essential to your family’s safety device and your safety too.

Which makes it a must for you to know how to change a smoke alarm battery because it is risky for you to have the best smoke alarms without functional batteries.

How often to change hard wired smoke detector batteries

How to Change the Smoke Detector Alarm Batteries

Now that you know how often to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector we can now discuss how to change the smoke detector batteries.

Once there’s a need for battery replacement, the alarm will give a short beep or chirp sound. Then, you must remove the old battery and replace it with a new battery of a similar brand.

Read Also: How to change battery in smoke detector hardwired.

Below is how to change the battery in your smoke detector. Follow the steps below once your new batteries are available for replacement:

  • Open the smoke alarm
  • Remove and replace the batteries
  • Close the smoke alarm
  • Test the alarm

Open the smoke alarm

Climb up the ladder or chair to remove the cover or the alarm from the bracket, once it detaches. Switch off the electricity to mains-powered smoke alarms first.

Remove and replace the batteries

Now you need to unclip the old battery/batteries and insert the good and new replacements. Ensure all batteries connect with the right positive and negative terminals.

Close the Smoke Alarm

Replace the cover or place the smoke detector back into its bracket.

Test the Alarm

Make sure you locate the test button on the external part of the smoke alarm and press it shortly. If the batteries are working properly, you will hear a chirping sound once it is pressed.

I hope this post has helped you to know how often to replace battery in hardwired smoke detector and how to change our smoke detector battery without stress. Let’s know how this gadget fix solved your issue in the comment section below. Thanks for reading thus far!

How long does a 9v battery last in a hard wired smoke detector?

Hardwired Like with the 9-volt battery models, you will need to change the battery once every year. You will have to have the entire system replaced after ten years. When the time comes you can replace the alarm yourself or have an electrician or alarm service company take care of it.

Can a hard wired smoke detector be replaced with battery?

It is not acceptable to replace a hard wired alarm with one that is battery operated. A home must maintain at least the same level of protection as originally required.

Do you need a battery in a hard wired smoke detector?

Battery smoke detectors run solely on batteries. Hardwired smoke detectors run on electricity, but they also have a backup battery for power outages. When you hear a hard-wired smoke detector beeping, it means you need to replace its battery.

Why is my hard wired smoke detector beeping after changing battery?

When you change the batteries on your smoke detector, it may chirp for up to 10 seconds. This chirping is normal and signals that the device is receiving fresh power. The same thing may happen to hardwired alarms when you turn on the device's power.