Home Fire Preparedness

10/18/2018 (Permalink)

Get tips on escaping from a home fire, plus learn smart habits that can prevent a fire from starting.

Smoke detectors are often forgotten about the safety feature of your home. That is until it begins to beep to remind you to change the battery. FEMA recommends you change the battery in your smoke alarm once a year and replace the entire device once every five years. 

Replacing the Battery

What You Need:

9-volt battery (typical battery used, may vary)

Ladder or Step Stool

Process:

1. Set up the ladder underneath the smoke detector to give you better access.
2. Turn the smoke detector counterclockwise so the face either comes off or drops down still attached by a few wires.
3. If there are wires attached to the face, squeeze the area where they connect and they should pop off. If they don't, leave it be and move on to step 4. Do not cut the wires.
4. The smoke detector may beep once it is disconnected, that is okay. Remove the backing over the battery housing and replace the 9-volt battery. Most current models do not require a screwdriver for this.
5. Place the smoke detector back over the base and turn clockwise to lock it in. You should hear or feel it click.

For more information on smoke detectors, see the FEMA page here.