The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that homeowners schedule a smoke alarm replacement every 10 years, covering both units with 10-year sealed batteries and hard-wired alarms. This is essential because the sensors in residential smoke alarms can deteriorate over time, leading to increased failure rates as they age. For instance, research indicates that after 10 years, approximately 30% of smoke detectors may be non-functional.
What does it mean when your smoke detector is yellow?
If you notice your smoke detector has turned yellow or exhibited a yellowish brown hue, it’s not due to dirt – this appearance is intentional and signals that it's time for a replacement. Smoke detectors typically start off white but will gradually change color over the years. This discoloration is caused by bromine, an element that helps the device resist flames and sound the alarm effectively. The transition of a smoke detector to yellow takes years, so using this color change as a guideline can help you determine when to seek smoke detector battery replacement or full unit replacement.