Smoke alarms are supposed to protect us, but for Dave in Colorado, one actually triggered a disaster. After replacing the 9-volt batteries in his alarms, he tossed the old ones into a recycling bag in his garage. Weeks later, when a box was set on top, a fire ignited—completely destroying his house.
The culprit? The design of 9-volt batteries. Their positive and negative terminals sit close together, and if they touch metal, they can spark a fire.
Dave’s warning is simple but lifesaving: cover the battery terminals with electrical tape before disposal to prevent contact with anything flammable. The National Fire Protection Association also advises never to throw batteries in the same trash as metal.
A tiny precaution can save your home. Watch the video to see how to avoid Dave’s nightmare.
