Chirp… chirp… chirp…
I’m sure most people are familiar with that annoying little “chirps” your smoke detector makes when the battery runs low. Sadly, many people DON’T immediately replace the battery. Instead they just let it chirp away until the battery dies out completely. Then you have a non-working smoke detector. That is not exactly a smart thing to do.
Check out this interesting article from Kidde about those annoying little chirps and why it’s something that you need to take seriously. It’s an eye opening article.
Minor Smoke Alarm Annoyances Are Compromising the Safety of Millions
While many American homeowners are annoyed by sounds emitted from their smoke alarms to warn of low battery power, how many ensure the earliest possible warning is always available to their family when dangerous fire is present? A recent survey of more than 1,000 owners of homes ten years or older reveals that while aggravated by sounds such as smoke alarm low-battery chirps, homeowners are not acting when warned of low battery power, even though statistics show they should be.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics indicate that the primary reasons smoke alarms fail to operate in home structure fires is a missing/disconnected battery (50%) and dead/discharged battery (23%).
The survey also reveals that homeowners are concerned about the risk of fire in their homes – particularly in locations such as the kitchen – but don’t know the basics about keeping their households safe.
A Familiar (and annoying) Sound…Especially at Night
• Nearly nine out of 10 homeowners (87%) have heard their smoke alarm low-battery chirp.
• Of those who have heard the sound, 43 percent report hearing the sound during the middle of the night.
• When compared to other fixable disturbances like clanking pipes, dripping faucets or a cell phone ringing, homeowners consider a middle-of-the-night low battery chirp or nuisance alarm more annoying.
Not Aggravated Enough to Act
• 53 percent of homeowners deem a smoke alarm low-battery chirp annoying, but one in three homeowners (33%) say that if they heard the chirp, they would not be extremely likely to replace the battery within 24 hours.
• Seven percent of homeowners confess that they’d be more likely to disconnect the alarm than install a new battery.
Cooking Up Concern
• Nearly eight in ten (78%) believe that a fire would be most likely in their kitchens than anywhere else in the home. And homeowners are right. Kitchens are the leading area of origin for home structure fires and civilian home fire injuries.*
Alarming Knowledge Gaps
A startling amount of homeowners are missing key knowledge about the basics of fire protection:
• Nearly three-quarters (74%) cannot correctly describe where smoke alarms must be placed in the home.
• Close to three in five (58%) cannot correctly answer that batteries should be changed every six months, and 68 percent believe that this action should be taken less often
• Forty-three percent admit that they do not know how often to replace smoke alarms.
• One in four homeowners confesses to never replacing their home’s smoke alarms.
WOW… this article blew my mind. There are a lot of scary statistics that I was unaware of. Living in a condo we’re at the mercy of our neighbors. We have people across from us, diagonal from us, next door to us and below up (we’re on the top floor so thankfully there is no one above us). If just one of the people in our building ignores that chirping sound it could be the difference between life and death for the rest of the residents.
We’ve already had three buildings burn to the ground in our complex over the post 30+ years. There are 10 units in each building so it displaces a lot of people. Not only that they often damage the buildings next door to them, displacing even more families.
This Fall, Kidde is launching a new line of Worry-Free Smoke Alarms. These new alarms are powered by sealed-in, long-life lithium batteries for 10 years (the life of the alarm). WOW!!! I like that. I would still recommend checking the alarm every month, or no less than every time you turn the clocks back or ahead, just to be on the safe side. But it’s great to know that you don’t have to worry about them for an entire decade.
Here is some more information about the new Worry-Free Smoke Alarms from Kidde.
Kidde Worry Free Smoke Alarms offer a variety of benefits to the millions of Americans who rely on continuous battery-powered smoke and fire detection in their homes. The alarms are powered by sealed, long-life lithium batteries for 10 years (the life of the alarm), meaning they are always on. Each of the four alarms includes features designed to address location-specific safety needs such as a light in the hallway for egress and innovative smart sensing technology for kitchens to minimize nuisance alarms caused by cooking.
Long-life Sealed Lithium Battery: Why it’s needed
While smoke alarms are installed in 96 percent of US homes, 20 percent of those alarms are not functioning, mainly due to dead or missing batteries. Moreover, two-thirds of residential fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or in homes with non-functioning smoke alarms.
With a sealed, long-life lithium battery smoke alarm, homeowners can enjoy peace of mind knowing that their homes’ smoke alarms are always on – operating 24 hours per day, seven days per week for 10 years – that’s a decade of hassle-free protection. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years.
Benefits of Worry Free Smoke Alarms
– It’s always on – 24 hours a day, 7 day a week protection against smoke and fire.
– Decade of Protection: sealed lithium battery provides 10 years of continuous power.
– Maintenance free and hassle free: Never have to replace the battery during the alarm’s operating life and no need to worry about the batteries being removed.
– Say Goodbye to late night low battery chirps: An end of life chirp tells you when it’s time to replace the alarm.
– Location based attributes: This makes it simple to select the right alarm for the right location in your home.
– Money Savings: No batteries to buy and replace every six months. Save up to $40 over the life of the alarm.
– Quick and easy installation: Simply twist the alarm on to the mounting bracket and it activates.
Overall Product Line Features
•UL Listed
• 85 decibel alarm
• Only UL-listed alarms to contain a photoelectric smoke sensor that is programmed to reduce nuisance alarms
• Only smoke alarms with SEALED long-life lithium battery to prevent tampering or removal; operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week for a decade
• Test-Reset Button tests the alarm circuitry and horn. Resets memory after alarm has sounded.
• End-of-life signal chirps every 30-45 seconds when alarm needs replaced
• Deactivation switch disables the alarm and makes the batteries safe for disposal once the unit has reached the end of its 10-year life. Tamper resistant feature prohibits a disabled alarm from being placed back onto the mounting bracket.
• 10-Year Limited Warranty
The Kidde Worry Free Smoke Alarms will be available at select home improvement stores and other retailers in early November 2012. Suggested retail prices range from $25 to $50.
To learn more about these and other Kidde products please visit www.Kidde.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Kidde would like to give a lucky winner a two pack of the new Kidde Worry Free Smoke Alarms (one for the bedroom and one for the hallway).
This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on November 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen.
To enter please leave a comment on this post and tell me what your favorite feature is about the new Worry Free Smoke Alarms is?
For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or additional entries won’t qualify.
Kimberly
*I will be receiving a gift card in exchange for my participation in this promotin. There is no other compensation. The opinons expressed are my own unless otherwise noted. Kidde willl be providing the prize package.
Claire says
Its great that it is on 24/7.
Sarah says
I love that it lasts for 10 years!! Ah, to not have to listen to the little chirps!! 🙂
gerri dumas domicolo says
This……. Only UL-listed alarms to contain a photoelectric smoke sensor that is programmed to reduce nuisance alarms…….I tend to “overcook ” dinner sometimes 🙂
Shana says
Maintenance free and hassle free: Never have to replace the battery during the alarm’s operating life and no need to worry about the batteries being removed.
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I like that I would never have to replace the battery…
Margaret Smith says
I like that you don’t need to keep replacing batteries. It’s so difficult for me to reach our alarms.
Cynthia C says
I absolutely love that they last 10 years without changing batteries.
Kim says
I like the warranty!
Jackie says
I like that it is the only UL-listed alarm to contain a photoelectric smoke sensor that is programmed to reduce nuisance alarms
Ann Fantom says
I like that the battery doesn’t need replacing every year
Margie says
I like that it is guaranteed for 10 years.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Jennifer Rote says
I like that they are Maintenance free and hassle free.
Annmarie W. says
I like that it has that test and reset button!
Kristi C says
I like that I won’t have to change batteries.
Tabitha Pyle says
this is what i like best ” innovative smart sensing technology for kitchens to minimize nuisance alarms caused by cooking.”
Vicki Wurgler says
No batteries to buy and replace every six months
Sonya says
I like that you don’t have to remember to change the batteries.
D Schmidt says
I like the 10 year warranty
Sheila K. says
Not having to change the battery is great!
Catie says
I love that is has a sealed long-life lithium battery!
Donna L says
I like that it comes with a 10-Year Limited Warranty.
Christine says
I like that the battery doesn’t need replacing every year.
Thanks for the chance!
Marci says
10 Years of battery life!
Seyma Shabbir says
No need to worry about battery changing so often!
Gina Brickell says
I love the fact that there are no battery changes needed.. That is the most aggravating part of having smoke detectors!
Ally says
I like that you can’t just put the disabled unit back up. It prevents dangerous laziness!
Karen Gonyea says
It lasts for 10 years !!
Jason says
I like that the battery lasts a decade.
Daniel M says
sealed-in, long-life lithium batteries for 10 years, great idea there
Beth C says
The 10 year period is great!
stony says
I like the long life battery
Marti Parks says
I like the ten year lithium battery.
Sandy VanHoey says
I like that it alerts you and chirps every 3–45 seconds letting you know that battery needs replacing
Monique Rizzo says
I love that they last 10 years with no battery change!
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
Kristie says
I like that it works for 10 years without the battery having to be replaces.
clarissa says
i like that you don’t have to change batteries
Marti Parks says
I shared on Facebook.
PAIGE CHANDLER says
I love a decade of hassle free protection. wowowow
ANN*H says
I like it last along time – 10 years , no changing batteries
Kelly H. says
I love that you don’t have to keep changing batteries.
Stephanie Larison says
I like the very long battery life!
Patti Hess says
I like that it is Maintence Free and Hassel Free….we have problems with our smoke detectors
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
Genine says
This was my favorite part:• Only smoke alarms with SEALED long-life lithium battery to prevent tampering or removal; operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week for a decade….I guess my son can’t remove the battery when he needs it for one of his games. not that he removes them from smoke alarms, but tv remotes, another story…
Debra Hall says
sealed lithium battery provides 10 years of continuous power
Katharine Davis says
I like that it lasts for so long worry free “SEALED long-life lithium battery to prevent tampering or removal; operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week for a decade”
Connie Bolick Lee says
No batteries to buy and replace every 6 months
Lindsey M says
I like that you get 10 yrs of power from the battery
kyl neusch says
guaranteed for 10 years.
Jess W says
A decade of protection! That’s great!
Shannon says
No batteries, and the button looks easy to depress, ours is nearly impossible.
Tamar says
It lasts for 10 years under warranty
Ani says
I love that the battery lasts for 10 years, that’s awesome.
Christian Alejandro N. says
I like that it last so long! I don’t have to worry about it! Less things to worry about is less stress.
April J says
I like that I won’t have to change the batteries!
melissa Resnick says
Its great that it is on 24/7.
Erica C. says
10 years of protection is amazing!
Gennie Lancaster says
I love the fact that the battery lasts 10 years!!
Meg says
I like that is has a sealed lithium battery provides 10 years of continuous power = awesome.
tracey rochelle johnson says
the 10 year warrenty
Jimmy says
I like that it has a long-life lithium battery
JoAnn F. says
I like “• Only smoke alarms with SEALED long-life lithium battery to prevent tampering or removal; operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week for a decade”
jofo120 at yahoo dot com
Karen says
I like the 10 year battery.
Nikki Davis says
Not replacing batteries and a 10 year warranty, love it!
Thank you for the entry,
sheryl cullum says
Maintenance free and hassle free: Never have to replace the battery during the alarm’s operating life and no need to worry about the batteries being removed
Breanne says
I like that it lasts for 10 years
cassandra says
the safety of it
Chrissy Nestor says
I like that It’s always on – 24 hours a day, 7 day a week
chrissylea1979 (at)gmail(dot) com
clynsg says
The long life battery and the fact that a unit that has reached the end of useful life cannot be reused.
susan smoaks says
i love that it has a lithium battery that will last a long time!
Patrice says
I like the fact that there are no batteries to buy and replace every six months. So we will be protected for years and save money and time.
Lisa L says
My fave feature is its location based attributes: This makes it simple to select the right alarm for the right location in your home.
kelly says
I like how long they last for.
James Coyne says
I like that they are on 24/7
meme says
The 10 year battery life
carol lewis says
Being small, I like that you don’t have to climb up and replace the batteries.
Patrice says
I like that the batteries last for 10 years!
kathy pease says
i love that you Never have to replace the battery during the alarm’s operating life and no need to worry about the batteries being removed.
Laura Proctor Unger says
I love that the battery lasts for 10 years!
Andrew L. says
The 10 year Battery of course!
Laurie Emerson says
I like that you never have to change the batteries.
trixx says
I love that it has long-life lithium batteries that last for 10 yrs!
Linda G. says
I like the 10year warranty
Veronica Garrett says
I like the 10 year sealed in battery. You don’t have to worry about replacing batteries.
Richard Hicks says
never having to worry about the battery replacement!
brich22 at earthlink dot net
Sarah Yurga says
I love not having to remember to buy batteries