Do you know how old your smoke detector is? Remembering when you last tested yours is hard enough, so it’s easy to lose track of its age. Unfortunately, smoke and CO detectors don’t last forever – after about ten years they start to wear out and become less effective. In fact, about 30 percent of detectors that are ten years old don’t work at all!
When it is time to do a smoke detector annual check-up (choose an annual date that is easy to remember), check on the age as well.
To check the date, just unscrew the front plate and take a look at the back of it. There should be a manufactured date printed or stamped in this area (sometimes it’s near the battery compartment, instead). If your detector was made more than ten years ago, it’s time to buy a new one.
If it is fairly new (within the last 5 years), then test the battery back-up. There are number of batteries specifically designed for smoke and CO detectors. If you need to replace your detector, grab one of these long-lasting lithium batteries at the same time.