Smoke and CO detector batteries and replacement in Chattanooga
We test your smoke and CO detectors, put in fresh batteries and swap out old battery-powered units, so you are not up on a ladder at 2 a.m.
$59 for one hour of small fixes and a full-home checklist with photos.
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- Insured
- Uniformed local crew
- Photo report after every visit
- Upfront pricing
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors only help if they work. Batteries run down. Units get old. A chirp from the hallway ceiling at night is often the first sign anyone notices. Many people pull the battery to stop the noise and forget to put a new one in.
Fortress Home Services tests detectors, changes batteries and replaces battery-powered units for homes in Chattanooga, Hixson, Ooltewah, Collegedale, Signal Mountain, East Brainerd, Fort Oglethorpe and Ringgold. We only work on detectors that run on batteries alone. Hardwired detectors are wired into the home's electrical system, so we do not touch them, and a licensed electrician should handle those.
Signs your detectors need a look
- A short chirp every minute or so that will not stop
- A detector with no battery in it, or one sitting on a shelf
- No one can remember the last time the test button was pressed
- A date on the back of the unit that is close to 10 years old
- Yellowed plastic or a unit that looks older than the house paint
- A new home where you do not know how old the detectors are
What the crew does
- Press the test button on each smoke and CO detector
- Put fresh batteries in units that use them
- Check the date printed on each unit and note its age in your photo report
- Swap out old battery-powered detectors with new ones
- Find the unit that is chirping and sort out why
- Gently clear dust from the outside of each detector
- Point out any hardwired units so you know to call a licensed electrician
Why it is worth checking on a schedule
The U.S. Fire Administration suggests testing smoke detectors once a month. It also suggests replacing the whole unit about every 10 years, since the parts that sense smoke wear out over time. Always follow the maker's guide for your unit. Some newer detectors have a sealed battery made to last the life of the unit. Those do not get a new battery. When they reach the end, the whole detector gets replaced.
Carbon monoxide has no smell and no color, so a working CO detector is the only way most people would know it is there. CO detectors also wear out, and many makers say to replace them sooner than smoke detectors. The date on the back tells you when the unit was made. We write down what we find, so you have a record of each detector and how old it is.
Detector care is part of the Quarter Round Plan. The Spring Refresh includes testing your smoke and CO detectors, and the Fall Prep includes fresh batteries in each one. Both happen inside the 2-hour visit, and you get a photo report after. Not a member yet? The $59 Fix-It Hour can take care of a chirping detector and a few other small fixes, plus a full-home checklist with photos.
Smoke and CO detector batteries and replacement questions
Can you replace a hardwired smoke detector?
No. A hardwired detector is connected to your home's wiring, and we do not do electrical work. A licensed electrician should replace those. We can still test them with the button and let you know which ones look old, so you know what to ask a licensed electrician about.
Why does my detector keep chirping after I changed the battery?
There can be a few reasons. The new battery may be weak or not seated all the way. The unit may need a reset after a battery change. Or the detector may be telling you it has reached the end of its life. We check each of these and tell you what we find.
How many detectors should my home have?
Fire safety groups suggest a smoke detector on every level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area. CO detectors are often placed near bedrooms and on each level too. Local rules and the maker's guide can add more detail. During a visit, we can walk the house and note any spots that seem to be missing one.
Often on the same list
Add smoke and co detector batteries and replacement to your list.
Tell us what needs doing when you book. Your tech starts on it during your Fix-It Hour and adds anything else to your home checklist.
Book your $59 Fix-It Hour
