How To Know When Smoke Detectors Are Too Old To Trust
Smoke detectors need to work when there’s a fire. But when you’ve had a particular detector for a long time, it might not be as reliable as it once was. Detectors do age, and as they age, they deteriorate internally and externally.
Leaving them in place is not a good option even if they still work during tests. With age comes uncertainty about when exactly the detector will stop working. It can become too old to trust without you realizing it.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Old Detectors That Still Work?
All smoke detectors have a projected lifespan. It doesn’t matter what they use as a power source; the detectors themselves can become too old. The sensors on the detector can go bad over time, and you wouldn’t know until you really needed the detector to detect smoke.
Detectors function in different ways. In some models that have optical sensors, testing the detector creates conditions internally that set off the sensor and the alarm. The problem here is that you could test the alarm and ensure it was working, and then it could fail due to age right after the test.
In older, removable-battery type detectors, tests don’t really involve the sensor. They check to see if the alarm can still make a sound, and they ensure that the circuitry and connections inside the detector still work. Replacing old detectors plays a vital part in ensuring your home has detectors that continue working properly.
Over time, dust can get into the detectors, making it harder for the sensors to work. They can also become super-sensitive, setting off false alarms. You can’t clean inside the detectors, and replacing them is the only way to stop them from malfunctioning as they age.
Signs Your Smoke Detector Is Getting Old
The signs a detector is too old to trust are straightforward. It’s easy to tell just by the number of years you’ve had it, its appearance and its operation.
You’ve Had It for at Least 10 Years
Making something last past its projected lifespan works for items like furniture or small appliances. It doesn’t work for smoke detectors. If the detector is 10 or more years old, replace it immediately. Even if it appears to respond to testing, you don’t know what condition the interior parts are in. The sensor could be very weak, for example, and it might not work when needed.
You Can’t Make It Beep During Tests
If the detector won’t beep when you test it, that’s a sure sign it’s at the end of its lifespan. The nonremovable battery could be dead, the sensor could have failed or the testing button could have broken. If it’s a hardwired model, the wiring could have gone bad, and you’ll need to call an electrician to replace the detector and wiring.
It Won’t Stop Beeping
Detectors start beeping periodically when the battery is about to die. This happens no matter what model you get, so if you have one with a nonremovable battery, it’s time to replace it. If you have a detector with a removable battery, and replacing the battery doesn’t stop those periodic beeps, you need a new smoke detector.
The Housing Is Discolored
The plastic housing on smoke detectors can discolor over time, especially if they come in contact with UV rays from sunlight. If that white detector you bought now looks yellow, it’s been sitting there for too long and is too old to trust.
You See Damage or Something Else Wrong
Even though smoke detectors sit high up on a wall or on the ceiling, they can still suffer damage. If you’ve ever picked up a broom only for the handle to scrape the ceiling, you know how easy it is to hit anything up there.
If you see any sort of damage, even a scratch, change the smoke detector. You might think it’s not too old, but the damage could have affected the sensors.
Consider Replacing Removable-Battery Models
The older types of detectors where you changed batteries once a year are not the only type available now. They are, however, less reliable overall. Consider switching them out for ones that you connect to the home’s electrical system. The supply of power is much more stable; you don’t have to worry about accidentally not installing the battery correctly.
These hardwired detectors have nonremovable battery packs that provide power if there’s an outage, and they last a good 10 years. However, you will need to arrange for a licensed electrician to install them. If your home doesn’t have wiring in the spot where you want the detector, the electrician can add it.
If retrofitting your home isn’t an option, though, there are battery-operated detectors with nonremovable packs that last up to 10 years. You’ll still need to test these regularly, but you won’t have to have new batteries on hand when you do.
Put Smoke Detector Testing and Maintenance on a Schedule
Testing a smoke detector is essential because there’s no other way to tell if the device is still working. This goes for any style of smoke detector, from newer hardwired models to classic versions that have removable batteries.
Ideally, you’d test the detectors once a month. At a minimum, test them once a year, preferably at a time that will be easy to remember.
This is why you see news stories about testing smoke alarms during the spring or fall time changes. You don’t have to test them at those times; you can choose any day where you’re most likely to get the job done.
Call Us for Hardwired-Alarm Installation
If the smoke detectors in your home are all very old, it’s time to replace them. Call Mister Sparky in Birmingham for an appointment. We can install hardwired detectors that run off your home’s electricity for better reliability. Keep yourself and your family safe and contact us now!
