I know you are supposed to replace them every ten years, I've planned to plan to do it. This morning at 'o dark thirty they went off for about 10 seconds. Not noticing any smoke smell or conflagration, I did a walk through of the house and found all was well. They were getting cosmetically unpleasant as some were yellowing to a nice golden harvest. I replaced the four ionization ones with photoelectric after reading up about the subject. Luckily, the hardwire plug was identical so it was a quick swap.

The toddlers were not impressed with the whole process. Our house was built in 2004, we've owned it since 2014. The manufacture date on the back of them were October 2007. Engineered obsolescence,

The sensors used to detect, just don't last forever. I like the sealed lithium battery ones offered now.

It's not really a case of engineered failure, but the limits of the technology.

The newest replacements for a hardwired system I have use AA batteries instead of 9V batteries that the old ones used for backup power.

Much less expensive to replace them now.

is there junk in them that must be recycled?

to prevent hazardous materials contamination?

or does one just pitch'em?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
is there junk in them that must be recycled?

to prevent hazardous materials contamination?

or does one just pitch'em?

They contain a small amount of Americium-241 which is radioactive, but as far as I know there is no where to properly dispose of them. I just throw them away when I replace them.

Found somewhere to recycle them, but it's a bit pricey....

https://www.ezontheearth.com/recycle-smoke-detectors

Mine get replaced when my oldest kid turns 10 years old, minus one week. I guess I'll replace them again when she's 20, and then when she's 30.

Yes, it was one of those nesting things at the time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: radioman,

in your dreams, next year they will make them to only last five years , and in 8 years they will only make them to last a year.

It's America, it's what we do