# How to know if your smoke detector unit needs replacement, NOT just the battery
We all feel safer, mounting a smoke detector in our home. We all know that the battery should be changed at least yearly. But, surprisingly, the unit itself (both battery operated and hard-wired models)need to be replaced every 8-10 years.
Things You'll Need
- A permanent ink marker
- Perhaps a new unit
Instructions
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Your smoke detector monitors the air in your home constantly for 24/hrs a day.
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So, experts estimate that in 10 years, a detector goes through 3-4 million duty cycles. Components wear out, become clogged with dust, and other air contaminants.
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Unsure just how old your unit is?? Look on the label , on the back of the unit, for a manufacturing date.
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To make it easy to tell when a replacement is due, write the replacement date on the back on your unit, or on a new one you install. So, when it's time to change the battery, you'll be reminded when the unit should be replaced.
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Smoke Detectors
- How to Change the Batteries on an ADT Wireless Smoke Detector
- How to Replace the 9V Battery in a Smoke Alarm
- How to Know If Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Is Just Low on Batteries?
- How to Replace a Smoke Detector
- How to Change the Batteries in Your Smoke Detector
- How to Test Your Smoke Detector
- How to Adjust the Sensitivity of a Smoke Detector
- How to Change the Back Up Battery in a Fire Smoke Detector
- How to Replace a Kidde Smoke Detector Battery
- How to Install a Smoke Detector in the Bedroom
- How to Test the Sensitivity of a Smoke Detector
- How to Remove a Smoke Detector Battery
