When to Change the Batteries in Your Fire Alarm & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Testing your smoke detectorDaylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 5th, which means it’s time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. You should be testing your systems once a month and changing your batteries every six months. A good rule of thumb is to change them with Daylight Savings time, so you have a landmark to remember it by.

Prior to changing the batteries in your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, refer to your manual for the proper replacement procedure. Because many smoke detectors are wired into your home’s electricity, you may need an electrician to service your unit. You will be able to test your unit monthly to check for full functionality. To change the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector, slide the unit off the mounting plate on your wall. This will expose the battery pack on the detector. Remove and replace the batteries in your detector and reinstall the mounting plate. Your alarm will beep once if your batteries have been installed correctly. Mount the unit back on the wall, and make sure you test the unit monthly.

If your unit fails and your home suffers from a fire, contact Boston Board Up Services. After gaining safety clearance and access, we will enter your building to stabilize the structure, board up the windows and stabilize your roof. We can be reached 24 hours a day at (800) 949-9113, or you can fill out our contact form.