Chirp, Chirp, Chirp.. said the Smoke Detector at 3 AM
Yes indeed we were awaken this morning at about 3 AM in Katy TX to the very unpleasant sound of a fire/smoke detector telling us its battery needed to be replaced. We guts it out as Yolanda did not tell me to get up and shut off that horrible noise. I did get up at 5:30 AM to workout. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which of 10 or so detectors we have was the culprit this time. I cancelled my workout plans as time slipped away quickly. I made several passes and as normal for me I could not figure which detector needed a battery pull job. I even stood underneath each one and waited for the noise to start and still could not figure which was the troublemaker!
My ladder for reaching the fire/smoke detectors on the ceilings was still outside our back door from the last adventure of replacing a battery a few weeks ago. After several trips upstairs and plus standing under detectors down stairs I punted and decided to pull the same battery I mentioned above and had just replaced a few weeks ago. Lo and behold the horrible noise stopped as my lucky guess was correct. It was a good thing as my patience was quickly wearing very thin. The suspect battery was new when it was inserted into this detector and has a date showing 2019. Hmm what gives here? I may have to replace the entire detector but who knows?
The question I have is why is the technology for knowing when a battery of these detectors needs to be replaced so primitive and displeasing? I do not understand with all the technology that exists today why a this type of detector cannot have some other means to tell the homeowner a new battery is needed which does not involve this horrible noise. My recollection is we have probably had this experience in the middle of night 90 % of the time!
How about having a chip in a detector which connects to the internet with bluetooth and sends a message to your smartphone or laptop or tablet ... indicating which detector’s battery needs to be replaced. This could be too complicated of a situation or is it? If this device exists please someone turn me on to the name and manufacturer. As I said we have 10 plus detectors to modify and cost to correct this issue may become prohibitive but certainly worth the time to investigate.
How many of you have had this same experience in the middle of night?? My guess is most of you! ::))))
Above picture courtesy of Bing free to modify, share and use pictures.
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