If you have an older home, or if you aren’t quite sure how old your smoke alarms are, it’s a good time to think about replacing them. Even if you have regularly replaced your batteries in your smoke alarms, they may become less effective as they get older. Some of the newer models also have advanced features, such as carbon monoxide detection and radon gas detection, making upgrading not only a smart decision, but one that could save your life.
Replacing smoke alarms is actually quite easy. First, you will need to remove the old smoke alarms. You may want to first remove the batteries so that they don’t accidentally go off while you are removing them, since this can be quite annoying, not to mention hard on your hearing. Open up the smoke detector, remove the battery and inspect the interior of the alarm.
There should be a bracket that connects the body of the smoke alarm to the ceiling. Older models may actually be physically screwed or glued to the ceiling. In order to minimize the amount of damage caused by removing the unit, take your time to fully inspect how it is attached and make sure you have the right tools for the job. Typically, a smoke alarm will be attached with Phillips screws, so you should just need a screwdriver to get the job done.
Once you have the old model removed, there may be a need to patch the ceiling where it once was. If you are replacing your smoke alarm with one that is sized identically to the one you had previously, you may not have to worry about this. If you want to make sure that replacing your smoke alarm is easy, shop for one that can simply go right into the old bracket. However, depending on how old the original is, this may be difficult.
If necessary, patch any spots that were ruined by removing the old unit before you proceed. Now, you can take your new smoke alarm out of the box and work on getting it installed. Each one will have different instructions and it is vital to follow them exactly. However, there are some basic guidelines to follow. For example, most of today’s newer smoke alarms will come with a bracket system, which is first attached to the ceiling, using screws. You may need a power drill to safely affix this bracket to the ceiling.
Once the bracket is installed, you can then put your battery into the smoke alarm, and attach the body of the unit to the bracket. This can be done with screws, or you may have a model that simply snaps together. Go through the necessary steps to test the unit before putting your tools away. This will help you spot any potential trouble spots before you have to get everything back out again. If all went well, your new smoke alarms should be ready to use. Don’t forget to replace those batteries TWICE a year to keep it operating safely.
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Originally posted 2008-11-28 05:33:34. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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