In what ways can a smoke detector be powered?
Batteries or power grid
Batteries
You mount a battery-powered smoke detector to your ceiling or wall anywhere in the house. That's because you don't need a socket to set it up. There are smoke detectors with replaceable batteries and smoke detectors with a built-in battery. A smoke detector with a built-in battery usually lasts about 10 years, but you have to replace it in its entirety after that. With smoke detectors with replaceable batteries, you only have to replace the battery when it's almost empty.
- You don't need a fixed socket to mount the smoke detector.
- The smoke detector gives a signal when the battery is almost empty.
- After a while, you have to replace the batteries or the smoke detector yourself.
Power grid
You have to connect smoke detectors that run on the power grid to a socket in the ceiling. This ensures that the smoke detector is powered continuously. Smoke detectors on the power grid always have a backup battery in case of a power failure. You don't have to replace this battery as often, because it runs out less quickly. If the power fails, the smoke detector switches to the batteries right away. So you'll still receive a timely warning in case of fire.
- Because the smoke detector works on electricity, you don't have to change the battery as often.
- A smoke detector that runs on the power grid lasts about 10 years.
- You can only place these smoke detectors in places with a socket.
When do you replace a smoke detector?
Batteries of smoke detectors last up to 10 years. After that. the smoke detector itself won't work properly anymore. Some batteries don't last as long, those are often replaceable. With these smoke detectors, you should keep in mind that the smoke detector itself lasts 10 years. So if you have one with a 5-year battery life, you have to replace the batteries 1 time. To indicate that the battery is almost empty, smoke detectors notify you with a light and a beep.
How do you replace a smoke detector?
When your smoke detector beeps, it can be very distracting. The distracting sound is there for a reason, because it's important that you replace the smoke detectors in time. A new battery can often solve the problem. If that's not possible, you need a new smoke detector. Read more about how you can solve the distracting beep via the link below.
