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It's now Sunday. I am at my computer writing. The same CO2 detector that chirped on Thursday and required new batteries starts chirping again.
This time I have batteries. I bought two different name brands for that fussy thing. I don't even check if someone can help. I climb the ladder and replace the batteries, remembering that the label is incorrect.
The damn thing continues to chirp.
I know the batteries are fresh. I know they are in correctly. I know that there shouldn't be any chirping.
And then I remember that the house is ten years old and these are the original detectors. I also remember that they only last ten years. I research how to remove a CO2 detector. It ended up being easier than I expected. I flipped the circuit breaker, disconnected it, and went to get ready to leave for the home improvement store.
Chirping. I'm like, don't tell me that the other detectors are chirping because I popped the circuit breaker. This is a longer segment, but to sum up: I forgot to take the batteries out of the one I took down and that's why it was chirping.
With the batteries removed and dressed for people to see me, which means not like I was dressed to write, I head to the store to buy a new CO2 detector.
Of course, there is literally no employee in the general vicinity to help me, so I pull out my phone and do a search for compatible models since my original has been discontinued. One of the models is a ten year, no battery changes option, but I can't find that on the shelves. Since I don't know anything about changing out the mount, it must be compatible so I can use the old mount.
I search for one of the other two options.
It took forever, but I finally located it on the top shelf. I buy three since I have three detectors, and if one is going, how long until the other two go? Then I spot the adapters. I don't know if I need them or not, but I buy three anyway, just in case.
When I get home, I put in the name-brand batteries, replacing the ones that came with the unit. (Now the +/- is imprinted in the plastic, which makes more sense.) I put one of the adapters in my pocket and go up the ladder.
Yes, I most definitely need the adapter. I do the attaching, all the while terrified because I'm three rungs up on a ladder and have a phobia about falling that I'm struggling with.
Next problem: Screwing the new detector into the existing mount.
This required multiple attempts and a lot more twisting than it took to get the old one off. I finally, finally got it attached. Flipped the circuit breaker back on.
Blessed silence.
