Battery change smoke alarm in Ottery St Mary

### The 3am Chirp Of Doom

**Chirp.** You wake up. Wait. **Chirp.** There it is again. The smoke alarm. Low battery. It's 3am and you've got work tomorrow and **the bloody thing won't stop beeping**.

You know you should change the battery. You know it's important. But you don't have a 9V battery. So you pull the battery out. Just until morning. Just to get some sleep.

Three months later, the alarm's still on the side. No battery. Not protecting anyone.

> 💡 **Pro tip:** Smoke alarms are designed to beep at night. Batteries test weakest when cold, houses are coldest at 3am. It's not random - it's physics. And it's deliberately annoying so you fix it, not ignore it.

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### Why This Matters

**Working smoke alarms save lives.** It's that simple. You're three times more likely to die in a house fire without working smoke alarms.

| ✅ Working Alarm | ❌ Neglected | |-----------------|--------------| | Early warning gives time to escape | Family asleep, no warning | | Loud enough to wake heavy sleepers | Silent death from smoke inhalation | | Tests clean monthly | No idea if it works | | Battery changed annually | "I'll do it tomorrow" for 6 months | | Legal requirement for landlords | Prosecution if tenant harmed |

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### Signs Your Smoke Alarm Needs Attention

**🔊 The Chirp** Single chirp every 30-60 seconds = low battery. That's your warning. Don't ignore it.

**🧪 Failed Test** Press the test button monthly. If it doesn't make a deafening alarm sound, it's faulty.

**📅 Unknown Age** Can't remember when alarm was fitted? Check the manufacture date on the back. If it's over 10 years old, replace the whole alarm.

**🔋 Never Changed Battery** If you've never changed the battery, it's time. Even "long life" batteries eventually die.

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### What I'll Do

**🔧 The Process**

| Stage | What Happens | |-------|--------------| | **Locate All Alarms** | Find every smoke alarm in the house | | **Check Expiry** | Verify each alarm is under 10 years old | | **Test Function** | Press test button on each | | **Replace Batteries** | Fit fresh batteries | | **Retest** | Confirm all work properly | | **Document** | Write battery change date on each alarm |

**🔋 Battery Types I Carry** - 9V (PP3) - most common type - AA batteries - some newer models - Replacement alarms if yours are expired

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### Pricing

| Service | Time | You'll Pay | |---------|------|------------| | Single alarm | 10 mins | **£60** | | Multiple alarms (2-5) | 15-20 mins | **£60** | | Full house check (6+) | 20-30 mins | **£60** | | New alarm fitting | Add 10 mins each | **+£15-25** |

*Based on £60 minimum. Batteries and replacement alarms charged at cost.*

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### When To Replace The Whole Alarm

Smoke alarms don't last forever. **Replace entire alarm if:**

**Over 10 Years Old** The sensor degrades. A 12-year-old alarm might beep when tested, but won't reliably detect smoke.

**Repeated False Alarms** Going off from steam/cooking when it didn't used to? Sensor's probably dying.

**Won't Stop After Cooking** If it keeps alarming and won't reset after you've dealt with burnt toast, it's faulty.

**Yellowed or Damaged** Physical damage, water damage, or severe yellowing = replace it.