Needed: Capable handyman not afraid of heights

[cjboffoli]

Can anyone recommend a reasonably-priced handyman who is comfortable on a tall ladder? I need to replace a hard-wired smoke detector that is in a hard-to-reach spot about 18-20 feet off the floor in my house. I’m not sure why the architect and builder decided to put this thing in such an inaccessible place as the battery needs replacing. I have an aluminum extension ladder but ever since a very serious mountaineering accident a few years ago I’m a little shaky on any ladder over ten feet. Thanks in advance for recommendations on someone capable and reliable.

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[PDieter]

do you just need someone to climb your ladder and change the battery?

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[cjboffoli]

PDieter: More or less. But I may have to replace that detector which would mean unclipping the modular hardwire and clipping in the replacement.

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[Rich]

If you still need your smoke detector serviced let me know.I’m retired and have experience working from ladders.

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[angelescrest]

CJB-Whoa! We were just (ten minutes ago) reading about your experience/accident in Everywhere magazine. How lucky you are!

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[cjboffoli]

angelescrest: Thanks so much for reading! If you knew how clumsy I am you’d appreciate the appropriateness of me gaining notoriety for falling on my ass. :-)

I consider myself lucky to have been injured in Seattle as we have some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country.

I’m sure you can understand why I’m in no hurry to be scurrying up tall ladders.

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[Kevin]

If the smoke detector IS battery operated and you wish to keep it at the existing height, here is a suggestion that might make things easier to deal with in the future.

See if it is possible to drop a light gauge wire pair down the inside of the wall to a point about 1 to 2 feet above the floor. If this is possible, then your handyman can connect the 2 wires to the place where the 9 volt battery connects to the smoke detector.

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Then at the point near the floor you install an empty electrical outlet box in the wall and place the battery in that box connected to the wires coming down from the detector. Put a blank cover plate over the box near the floor and label it “Smoke Alarm Battery” and you are done.

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The next time the battery needs replacing (TWICE a year when the time changes) you simply remove the cover plate from the box near the floor and replace the battery. No ladder needed.

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The only downside is that you will not be able to easily test the smoke alarm without being up on a ladder, but if you replace the battery twice a year it would not really be an issue.

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Also, for your information and others, you can buy a spray can of smoke detector spray which allows you to test a detector by spraying a small amount of spray near the detector. The spray simulates actual smoke and works great.

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The smoke detector spray that I have is made by CRC and I think I found it at Lowes or Home Depot for about $4.

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As for the other parts you need if you decide to relocate the smoke detector battery to a lower location, Radio Shack and Home Depot will have everything you need.

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[cjboffoli]

Rich: Could you please send me a private e-mail with your contact information. My e-mail address is cjboffoli (at) gmail.com

Kevin: Thanks for the comprehensive e-mail. It seems a smart solution to somehow bring the battery down to ground level. But I think I’ve found something that is more elegant: 9 volt lithium batteries made especially for inaccessible smoke detectors. They have an 8-10 year life span.

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