I'm retired now, but I help a friend a couple of days a week with a small contracting business. He recently signed a contract with a company that owns three apartment complexes, to do some repairs and general maintenance work.                                                          Our first job last week was to walk a 24 unit complex and check all the smoke alarms. We were to replace any batteries that needed replaced, and also replace any outdated or non functioning alarms.                                             In the one bedroom apartments there are two alarms. The two bedroom apartments have three. In 24 apartments, we found 17 non working alarms. The biggest thing was if an alarm started to chirp, people just took it down. The chirping sound is a sign of a low or dead battery.                                                                   It's such a simple thing to pop in a new battery, or even replace an alarm that's outdated. The maintenance man who works this property was put on a 30 day reprimand. I'm surprised he was allowed to keep his job.           If you suspect your smoke alarms are not working correctly, check them out. A fire marshal in Kansas City told me to replace the batteries twice a year.                                                   A fire can start in many different ways. Try to keep your smoke alarms working as they should. You'll sleep better at night, and you could help save lives too.

It ain’t always quite that easy. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve replaced all the batteries in all the ones at mom’s house and they were all still beeping. It’s loads of fun at 11:30 pm 

I keep a baseball bat handy for when one starts churping in the middle of the night. 😊

Timely post.

The units (6 in all) in our home were 20 plus years old.

(date label on unit)

All hardwired with battery backup.

As far as I know they were operating properly but in an effort to take the guesswork out,

we had an electrician here a couple of weeks ago replace them all with new ones.

The man was a machine and completed the job in short order. 

Including the carbon monoxide (CO) detector.

Cost was reasonable for peace of mind.

🔥

A-Jay

It's on my list to do. My smokes were installed in '08. I'll replace them this coming spring. They're all fine and work but I guess it's recommended they get replace every 10 years. Hoping I can just replace the heads. We'll see

 

Oops

In my area, there is a program for seniors on fixed incomes where you can get free smoke detectors and free carbon monoxide detectors. The are the battery type, not hardwired. I can get 4 of each type every 5 years. I just have to stop by their office and pick them up. I do this every 5 years and put them up myself. I test the old ones, and if they still work fine I put them in my basement as extras along with the new ones. Check with with your local Office of the Aging, or similar service agency 

My smoke alarm are old but they work well. Smoke from cooking sets the things off. If i'm frying a steak , I take them down.

Mine are hardwired with battery backup. When the batteries go bad it is always around 2AM LOL.

I get free firewood (son-in-law and grandson cut it on my farm) so I use wood heat as my primary source December through March.  When one beeps they all get new batteries.

Went down to look at smoke alarms today. Individual hardwired/battery back-up and battery only were $38.99/device. I need 7 hardwire/battery back-up. Came home and went on Amazon and found a 6-pack deal and a single for $120.

After I ordered I remembered this thread. If you're interested or in need, the hardwired ones I just bought are BRK First Alert SM100V-AC. You may have to scroll down a bit, but the 6-pack deal will pop up