# It's Time For My Occasional Reminder About Screws **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2014, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231 "2014-02-13T08:41:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/21 "2014-02-21T13:17:38Z")
I think the packaging on my carbon monoxide detector gave it a usable life of 7 years. As for smoke detectors…when I was growing up, I don’t think my parents ever replaced the smoke detector near the kitchen. It was (inadvertently) tested on a very regular basis, and was always very quick to respond. I’m sure the manufacturer would recommend periodic replacement, though probably not as frequently as a carbon monoxide detector. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/22 "2014-02-21T13:19:39Z")
Yes. Most have a “good to” date printed on them. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/23 "2014-02-21T17:13:54Z")
yeah carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are good for 7 years. ionization smoke detectors are good for about 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/24 "2014-02-21T17:25:35Z")
there are battery smoke alarms now that have a 10 year nonreplaceable battery inside. a safety factor against dead batteries not being replaced or a too old alarm. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/25 "2014-02-21T22:46:30Z")
Another good idea: about once a year, pull the negative cable off your car battery and clean up the post with a [tool](http://www.harborfreight.com/battery-terminal-cleaner-94450.html) designed for the job. This is more important if you have a vehicle that sits for long periods, like a stored RV. I learned my lesson when I pulled over in a remote area to pee and then found that my vehicle wouldn’t start again. Wouldn’t have been a big deal, but I had no tools with me. I do the RV battery every spring, now. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/26 "2014-02-22T01:41:09Z")
I bought a bargain smoke detector. The instructions say, “for best results hold directly over flame”. (stolen from a stand-up routine by I forget who) mmm ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/27 "2014-02-24T01:40:04Z")
Perhaps some veteran woodworkers can chime in on this but I subscribe to the Wood Screw Hypothesis which states that you should always return a removed wood screw to the hole it was removed from. The idea is that wood screws are not _exactly_ identical so variations in thread manufacture will force the screw to bite into different wood, eventually stripping the hole. I know it sounds bogus but I still do it religiously. BTW: Not applicable to machine scews, but especially important for lag screws. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/28 "2014-02-24T01:53:02Z")
I don’t think it’s that important for wood screws, because the elasticity of the wood is greater than the variance in screw threads. I am a subscriber of the “jam toothpicks in there, if it’s loose.” Adding wood glue helps too, if it’s important. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/29 "2014-02-24T02:57:57Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > You are a very prudent people. I’m proud of myself if I remember to set the time on the microwave every daylights savings. > > That’s not very often. I re-set it after I lose power. Usually. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231/30 "2014-02-25T14:43:47Z")
The screws around my dwelling(s) that always seem to be the loosest are those on light switch and outlet plates. This inevitably causes them to crack with the slightest knock if not tightened regularly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-my-occasional-reminder-about-screws/681231.md?page=1)