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Daylight Saving Time Begins, Check Your Smoke Alarms!

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.
how to replace a smoke detector and replace the 9V HDX battery

Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 11th. ⏰  For me, it's the unofficial start of Spring that makes me happy.  :) The hour of sunlight we get completely overrides the hour of sleep we lose.

Daylight saving time is also a good reminder to go and check those smoke detectors!  That's one of the easiest and very inexpensive ways to protect our families from smoke and fire injuries. All it takes is to test those smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly.

Go, press, and hold the test button on the smoke detector. After a few seconds, you will hear the loud sound (alarm), coming from the smoke detector while the button is pressed. If you get a weak sound or no sound a all, it means you need to replace the batteries.

Now, did you know smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years? I didn't!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Look at that! Our alarms were installed in September 2000.  Almost 18 years ago! 😲
There are several reasons why you need to replace them every 10 years, you can read about that in this article here and here. But overall, is for peace of mind.

smoke detectors have to be changed every ten years
Kidde - FireX Hardwire Smoke Alarm with Battery Back-Up (4-Pack)
Of course, we immediately got our new smoke alarms. If you need to change yours, my best recommendation is to uninstall one and bring it with you to the store so you can buy a similar product to maintain the same configuration you have.

Our alarms are hardwired with a backup battery in case of a power outage.

kidde smoke alarms with red plastic cover and replace and install dates

The dates were written on the alarms and they were ready for fairly easy installation. So much so that my 15-year-old son, under Mr. RLC's guidance, was the one who tackled this job.

However, if like me, electricity is definitely not your thing, by all means, call an electrician.
DeWalt Drill Driver  |  Ridgid Dual-Power Light Cannon

My husband is the one who understands and makes most electrical repairs around the house. He's the one who changes batteries and everything power related. But this time, he got his assistant, talk about life lessons for our son.

After a short demonstration, the boy went ahead and replaced all the other alarms. The following is a small video I recorded of the process:

*The first step is to go and turn off the power at the main circuit breaker in your home electrical panel*


If your smoke alarms are still OK, within the 10-year life, the battery is the only thing you need to replace.
HDX 9V Alkaline Batteries
You'll need 9V alkaline batteries. We replace them twice a year as we change our clocks.

Slid open the battery compartment door, remove the old battery and install the new one. That's it!
yellow dewalt 20 compartment pro small part organizer packed with HDX alkaline batteries
DeWalt 20-Compartment Pro Small Part Organizer

So, while the boys were changing those smoke alarms, I decided to bring organization to my battery collection! :D

I'm now hooked on these HDX batteries, their quality, and their performance for the awesome value you get, it's a no-brainer! And they're guaranteed to hold power for up to 10 years in storage.

yellow dewalt 20 compartment pro small part organizer packed with HDX alkaline batteries

Eeeek! I love to be this organized! 😆

Cristina Garay holding yellow dewalt 20 compartment pro small part organizer packed with HDX alkaline batteries
Werner LadderDeWalt Organizer  |  Milwaukee Performance work gloves
Hey, those batteries are heavy, but this DeWalt organizer is SO perfect for this. It's though! 💛 But, easy to carry around the house. ;)

yellow dewalt 20 compartment pro small part organizer packed with HDX alkaline batteries
AAA -HDX Batteries  |  AA -HDX Batteries
Another thing I liked about these batteries is that I ordered them online from Home Depot and their shipping was free, which means we're not going to run out of those AA or AAA batteries that we use so much!
how to replace a smoke detector and replace the 9V HDX battery

But hey, now it's your turn. Go and change those batteries! /Safety first! 🧡




I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the promotional program described above (the “Program”). As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

*This post contains affiliate links.*





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