Re: Mains powered smoke alarm
Originally Posted by
Judd
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If you recommend it, I'd trust you.
However, although you say 'ten years', I can see no mention of a guaranteed 10 year life on the web site. Is it definitely going to last for 10 years (but not the battery of course)?
The ten years is the life expectancy - it will have a replace by date on it when you get it. The alarm will chirrup every forty seconds or so when the battery needs changing. All smoke alarms should be replaced after ten years as a matter of course as although it will work while pressing the test button, it's not guaranteed to work in a fire situation because of the build-up of dust over time.[/QUOTE]
OK. Fair enough.
Actually, the old mains-powered smoke alarm, which is still in place and has been as long as we have been here - 15 years! - seems still to be working, at least in some respects.
The light flashes every minute or so, which I assume indicates it is still working.
I haven't replaced the back-up battery, so in a power cut I'm sure it won't be working.
As you say, it may look as if it's working, but may not work in a real fire situation.
Having said that, when we had a new gas fire put in in the adjacent room a couple of months ago, they did the usual smoke test and the alarm went off! I think that's pretty good for over 15 years old!