Smoke Detector Low Battery Alarms Are Considered Annoying and Are Often Ignored
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Smoke Detector Low Battery Alarms Are Considered Annoying and Are Often Ignored

April 18, 2013

Source: RESEARCHSCAPE

Kidde, a manufacturer of fire safety products, sponsored a survey to better understand homeowners’ impressions of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Homeowners’ primary frustration with such devices is hearing a low battery chirp, especially late at night. Yet, homeowners don’t automatically replace the battery:

  • 7% say they’d be more likely to disconnect the battery than insert a new one
  • 33% might wait a day or more to replace the battery after hearing it chirp
  • 50% of U.S. homes have a CO alarm installed, most of which are battery-powered

Kelton surveyed 1,018 U.S. homeowners with battery-powered smoke alarms and homes older than 10 years, on behalf of Kidde. The online survey was fielded from July 27, 2013 to August 3, 2012. The survey results were not weighted. Based on a Researchscape assessment of the questionnaire and methodology, this survey is somewhat likely to be representative of U.S. consumers in general.

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