I am an engineer and it’s just legitimately hard to build any kind of sensor that lasts and stays accurate longer than like 10 years especially without maintenance. They do intentionally design them so that they don’t last longer, but that’s because a design that would last longer would costs like 10x as much and require a lot of maintenance and calibration that your average homeowner is simply not going to do. It’s honestly surprising you can make an accurate smoke detector that even lasts 10 years as cheap as they are.
Comment on YSK Your smoke detectors should be replaced every 7-10 years
BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 3 days agoI know some manufacturers are even beginning to make detector units with non-replaceable batteries, intended to be replaced whole when the battery dies after years of runtime, to make it impossible to keep using a detector after its rated lifetime.
I’m sure that’s the reason say they do it, but that smells like standard corporate planned obsolescence and profit seeking with a great PR excuse.
markovs_gun@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Bluetreefrog@lemmy.world 1 day ago
It’s more to do with improved battery technology. New detectors have lithium batteries that last the same ten years as the detector.
ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 2 days ago
Yes, but no. You really should replace your detectors every decade. They will likely work perfectly for twice that, but is it worth the risk over like $100 in smoke detectors?
So it does sort of force you to replace it after a decade, but you should anyhow.
It’s also well worth it, because getting on a chair or ladder and buying new overpriced 9v batteries every year (if you’re all proper about changing them) is a pain in the ass compared to once a decade. The more of a pain it is to get to your detectors, the more a 10 year one becomes worth it.
You’re supposed to hit your test button once a month to check their functions, but I dont think anyone anywhere actually does that. If they tell me they do I’ll just assume they’re a liar.