How to Take Out Smoke Detectors

Battery-Powered

• 1

  Place a ladder beneath the smoke detector if it is mounted on the ceiling. If the detector is mounted on the wall, place the ladder next to the wall instead.

• 2

  Twist off the cover of the smoke detector. Pull the battery out of the battery compartment inside the detector; if a battery clip is attached to the contacts of the battery, pull the battery clip off the battery contacts first.

• 3

  Remove the screws from around the smoke detector, using a Phillips screwdriver.

• 4

  Pull the smoke detector off the mounting plate that is attached to the wall; if there is no mounting plate, insert the tip of a flat-edged screwdriver beneath the detector on one side and lift up to loosen the glue holding the detector to the wall.

• 5

  Pull the detector off the wall with your hands. Place the ladder away. Dispose of the smoke detector properly,

Electric-Powered

• 6

  Trip the circuit breaker at the fuse box to quit the electric power to the smoke detector.

• 7

  Place a ladder next to the wall, if the detector is wall-mounted or under the detector if it is on the ceiling.

• 8

  Remove the screws from around the detector, using a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the detector out from the wall.

• 9

  Twist the screw-nut connectors off the twisted pairs of wires that can now be seen coming out of the hole in the ceiling or wall. Separate the wires from each other.

• 10

  Twist the screw-nut connectors onto the wires that are coming out of the hole in the ceiling or wall. Dispose of the smoke detector properly. Place the ladder away and restore the electric power at the fuse box.