Pro Handyman Blog

Smoke Detector Battery Replacement

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It’s 3 am and your smoke detector battery is chirping. You sure don’t want to go through another night of poor sleep. It’s time to replace the smoke detector batteries.

Generally, it is recommended that you replace the batteries twice per year, each time you change the clocks for daylight savings time and back again.

Replacing the batteries is probably as simple as you imagine, but the only challenge is reaching them. Use a safe ladder and be careful (don’t stand on the top step).

To access the battery, the smoke detector will either have a small door that slides out, or the entire top of the detector will rotate off of it’s base. Whichever type you have, just make sure you reinstall the new battery with the positive side of the battery lining up with the positive terminal of the detector. With the detector whose top rotates off this won’t be difficult as the wiring won’t allow you to install the battery incorrectly. However, the detector with the sliding door just has some bare contacts and you can install the battery either way. There will be decals on the terminal that shows you the proper orientation. Just line up the terminals to the battery posts and reassemble the smoke detector.