Detector maintenance is one of those tasks a household with multiple people tends to catch by accident — someone hears the low-battery chirp. Living alone means it's worth a deliberate routine instead.
A simple routine
- Test all detectors monthly using the test button
- Replace batteries on a fixed schedule (many people use daylight saving time changes as the reminder) rather than waiting for a chirp you might not notice while sleeping
- Replace whole units per manufacturer guidance, typically every 7-10 years for smoke detectors
Combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors with sealed 10-year batteries remove the battery-replacement step entirely, worth the slightly higher upfront cost.