House fires are some of the most dangerous situations you’ll ever face. Small fires can quickly get out of control, and it may only take a few minutes for flames to spread throughout your house. Smoke alarms are the best defence you have against house fires. Having a few minutes of early warning can make all the difference, but your alarms can only help if they’re operational. In this article we’ll provide step by step instructions on how to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.
How to Change the Battery in a Smoke Alarm
The majority of the smoke alarms you see in Queensland homes are fed by 240V power. Wiring smoke alarms into the mains power supply is a simple way to ensure the system is always working when you need it. In addition to the mains power supply, smoke alarms also contain battery backups. While modern battery backups can last for 10 years or more, you’ll need to make a habit of testing the system and changing smoke alarm batteries regularly.
- Remove the unit from its bracket. Different manufacturers use different attachment systems, but you usually only need to slide or twist the alarm to remove it.
- Open the alarm and replace the old battery with a new one. When it comes to smoke alarms, it’s best to use long-life lithium batteries. It’s common for smoke alarms to use 9V batteries or 2032 coin batteries.
- Reattach the smoke alarm to its bracket and test the system.
How Often Do You Need to Change Smoke Alarm Batteries?
Smoke alarm batteries should be replaced once per year. Many batteries promise a longer lifespan, but swapping them out regularly is the best thing you can do to protect your family. A good way to remember to change the batteries is to do it on the same day each year, like on July 1st.
Smoke alarms are your first line of defence against fires. Data from New South Wales shows that 56% of fatal house fires occurred in homes where no smoke alarms were present. Working alarms provide early warning that gives you a chance to escape your home and call for help. For that reason, it’s important to make a habit of changing the batteries every year. If your home has a newer smoke alarm system with non-changeable batteries then you don’t need to worry. All you have to do is test the system once a month to ensure it’s working and replace the alarms every 10 years.
Queensland’s Changing Smoke Alarm Legislation
The Queensland Government is committed to protecting homeowners from the dangers of fire. To do that, the government is rolling out a gradual change to smoke alarm legislation.
As of January 1, 2017, all new and renovated homes in Queensland were required to install interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. From January 1, 2022, this same requirement was extended to all houses being leased and sold. That means landlords are now required to have interconnected smoke alarm systems installed in all their tenanted properties. From January 1, 2027, these requirements will be extended to all homes in Queensland. You don’t have to wait for the changes to roll out though, you can have your smoke alarms updated with a newer system at any time.
Protect Your Home with Smoke Alarms by Dawson Electric!
Smoke alarms are one of the simplest and most affordable ways to look after your family’s safety. The early warning provided by a smoke alarm can make all the difference and prevent a small house fire from doing serious harm. If it’s time to update your smoke alarms, get in touch with Dawson Electric! We’ve been working hard to update homes and investment properties across Brisbane to ensure they comply with the Government’s new legislation. Our smoke alarm installation services can take care of all the details to ensure alarms are installed correctly. Book an appointment with our residential and commercial electrical maintenance team if you’d like more information on getting the smoke alarms in your home updated or EV charger installation Brisbane wide!