Q: We are getting ready to rent out a two-bedroom townhome that has four hard-wired smoke alarms with battery backups. Would it be a good idea to switch to combination smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector units? And should we use 10-year lithium batteries in the alarms? Will those batteries be as long-lasting as they say or would it be better to stick with replacing regular 9-volts all the time?
A:Β It would be a great idea to use those combo alarms plus lithium batteries. Since you will have tenants in the townhome, you donβt want the chore of replacing batteries every year. Lithium batteries, by the way, die very slowly. They will give you warnings for weeks before they finally need replacing.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
