If your detector is battery operated or has a battery backup, then the batteries should be replaced yearly. The consumer product safety commission recommends changing them when daylight savings time ends. You could also replace the batteries when daylight savings time ends and begins to be extra safe.
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About the Author: Kris Lippi is the owner of ISoldMyHouse.com, the broker of Get LISTED Realty and an official member of the Forbes Real Estate Council. He actively writes about real estate related topics such as buying and selling homes, how-to guides for around the house and home product recommendations. He has been featured in Inman, Readers Digest, Fox News, American Express, Fit Small Business, Policy Genius, Lending Tree, GoDaddy, Manta as well as other major websites. Read more about us here.