When Clocks Go Back An Hour – Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries

ByKen J. Last Update
14 Comments
change smoke alarm battery

Today we’re back to “Standard Time” rather than “Daylight Savings Time”.

The saying goes, “Fall back” “Spring ahead”.

Well this year it’s November (3rd) so we “Fall back”.

It’s also an excellent reminder to change all of the batteries in your smoke alarms around the house.

You do have them, right? (smoke alarms)

When To Change The Batteries In Your Smoke Alarms

Don’t wait until you begin to hear that annoying “CHIRP”.

That little repetitive chirp is incredibly annoying (it’s supposed to be). For some reason my dog goes nuts when he hears it. It scares the $%&* outta him (not sure why). Must hurt his ears.

Anyway, don’t wait till the low battery chirp starts in the middle of the night (you know it will happen in the middle of the night). Just go ahead and change those batteries.

I highly recommend that you use no-leak batteries. And that would be the Energizer Max brand. I dumped Duracell several years ago (they all leak).

I stumbled across an excellent price on Energizer Max AA batteries if you’re interested:

Energizer AA Batteries (48Count)
(potential amzn commission at no extra cost to you)

Energizer 9-volt batteries

So, that’s your preparedness tip for the day. Safety first.

Do you use a different time of year as a reminder to change your batteries?

Continue reading: Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms | Why They’re The Best

Smoke Detector Alarms DO Have a Shelf Life

14 Comments

  1. God reminder. Our batteries always seem to need changing just before we change the clocks. Just one of those things……

  2. Thanks for reminding me to check them. I use lithium as they last much longer. I do check the voltage on them and after 5 years they are still good. Won’t be climbing ladders for a while with the broken hip.

  4. Ken
    Thanks for reminding me…..
    Hate all my alarms.
    They (six of them are hardwired). + Battery back up. I’ve pulled most, even with the addition of new batteries and the constant chirp. The whole house needs a new system of compatable hardwired, battery backup….on a budget..
    CO +alarm would be cool.

    1. JC
      I hate em too,
      Was broiling some sausage in the oven and it kept setting them off, wasnt even all that smokey

  5. Nope sorry Ken….
    This year aka now, was the time to replace ALL of the smoke AND CO2 detectors.
    They were installed new 10 years ago. Time for new ones.
    A suggestion, write the date installed on the back of the detectors and the date the batteries are installed on them with a magic marker.

    1. NRP,
      CO detectors. If you had CO2 detectors, they would go off every time you opened a beer, meaning all the time. Blue would be a nervous wreck!

      1. Minerjim:
        You are absolutely correct, my mistake CO aka carbon monoxide detectors

  6. Set clocks back, changed batteries in the smoke alarms, security cameras, motion detectors , and door alarms.

  7. I have a split duplex. I rent out 1 apt. and I live in the other. We have always done this. Change the clocks, change the batteries. It works.

  8. Being a retired fire fighter and police officer I was curious as to how long the nine volt batteries last in a typical smoke detector. Whenever one started squeaking I would replace the battery and write the date of installation. After twenty years, I have come to the conclusion that the battery will last almost three years. Don’t take my advice, write the date on the battery and check it out for yourself. Sorry Ray-O-Vac.

    1. I write the date on the detector when I change the batteries. All of mine have AA batteries. A few of them are solely powered by batteries, and the others are wired into the house electrical system and the batteries are backup.

      I do know that many smoke alarms also have 9-volt batteries. Years ago I recall my old detectors had them.

      The good thing is that you can wait until they chirp to replace them. If that means 3 years for yours, that’s great. Though for less than a buck, I personally feel better changing them out early.

      Plus, like I said in the article, my dog goes nuts when ‘the chirp’ begins. And I’m sure it will be in the middle of the night… (Murphy)

      1. It’s generally coldest in the middle of the night. Marginal voltage drop…. ‘peep!”

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