Can the Fire Department come out and change the batteries on my smoke detector? Yes, if the smoke alarm is too high for the resident to reach and they are disabled or elderly and are not able to climb on a ladder to replace the batteries.
Our firefighters will replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for those unable to safely access their units. Residents living in rental properties should obtain smoke and carbon monoxide alarms from their landlord, who is legally required to provide both.
Most fire departments will be glad to send a crew over to check your alarms, and some even provide new ones free of charge.
If you have a battery-operated smoke detector, your local fire department can change the batteries or help you replace the detector—just make sure you call the non-emergency number. In any case, do not let this project go unresolved, as it could turn into a huge safety issue.
First, it is the tenant's responsibility to maintain the smoke detectors. Second, many tenants are not aware of the need to change batteries regularly.
Replacing smoke alarm batteries
The landlord must replace the battery annually. The landlord must replace the battery within two business days of notification by the tenant. The tenant must inform the landlord of problems with smoke alarms. In some circumstances you can replace the battery.
Once the battery has run out completely, the device will switch to residual power. Eventually, this will also drain and the device won't have enough power to beep and let you know it's out of power. You should change the battery before this happens. Otherwise, you risk forgetting that the device is no longer working.
Stopping a smoke alarm from beeping is often simple. Get a step ladder and carefully reach for the alarm. Pressing the “Test/Silence” button on the front of the unit should stop it from beeping or chirping. If this doesn't work, grasp the device and turn it counterclockwise.
I called the fire department. They came right out and replaced the battery.
The national average cost for installing a smoke detector is between $70 and $150, with most people paying around $112 to install a dual hardwired detector. At the low end of the spectrum, you pay around $44 for a battery-operated ionization detector.
Just give the fire department a call on their non-emergency line or call the fire prevention department.
What Does a Beeping Fire Alarm Mean? Unless there is some kind of smoke or fire emergency, a smoke alarm beeping every 30 seconds signifies that it is low battery. Sometimes though, other environmental factors can cause the alarm to beep more than normal.
Testing and Changing Your Fire Alarm Battery
If your smoke alarms are powered by a nine-volt battery, the battery should be replaced every 6 months, while the alarm itself should be replaced once every 10 years. For 10-year lithium-powered fire detectors, you won't need to replace the battery.
Some fire departments offer reduced-price, or even free, smoke alarms. Contact your local fire department's nonemergency phone number for more information. Your city, county or state may require a specific type of alarm.
Clear Residual Charge to Stop the Chirp
Remove the alarm from your ceiling or wall. Open the cover and take out the battery. Press and hold the test button for 15-30 seconds. This will fully reset the smoke alarm and drain any charge left inside.
Call your local fire department's non-emergency phone number (NOT 911) and ask them if they know of someone who can change the batteries on smoke alarms/detectors for you.
In CA it is the LL's responsibility to maintain the smokes & CO alarm. One can only hope the tenants don't rob the batteries to power their kids toys, and yes that has happened.
On average, a 9V battery in a smoke detector will last between six months to a year, depending on several factors.
If you replaced the battery and it's still beeping, the smoke detector might have expired like milk. Smoke detectors have an expiration date. The sensitive equipment inside can only work reliably for so long, so if yours is beeping and its expiration date has passed (or will in a year or two), it's time to replace it.
Tip: Before working on a hard-wired smoke detector, turn off the main power at your circuit breaker to avoid electrical shock.
Accumulation of Debris
A smoke alarm is a sensitive device that helps to detect smoke particles from different sources of fire. Debris such as dust or soot often produced by burning matter can accumulate on the gadget thereby triggering the alarm even when there is no actual fire.
The beeping sound the low battery alarm makes can become very annoying but can be disconnected by removing the drained battery from your home alarm system panel. Make sure to replace the drained battery with a new one to keep your home alarm system functioning properly.