How Often To Change Smoke Detectors. Some use lithium batteries that can last up to ten years, but these typically expire when the batteries do. This article has been viewed 183,306 times.
Ionization units are prone to false alarms from burnt food and steam, so don’t mount them near a kitchen or bathroom. The recommended procedure is to check your smoke alarm batteries at least every month or every quarter of a year (one to three months each year). Common smoke detectors like the ones that you have in your house, use an ionization process to detect smoke in your home.
Ionization smoke detectors are best at detecting the small particles typical of fast, flaming fires but in our tests, all tested poorly for detecting smoky, smoldering fires.
Many of these fire alarms detect smoke as well as carbon monoxide. The life expectancy of smoke alarms is generally 10 years, after which point their sensors can begin to lose sensitivity. It is recommended you test your alarms at least once a month to ensure they are working properly. • ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn of flaming fires.