Smoke Detectors

[RobWNY]

As part of getting things ready to leave for the winter, I started wondering about the smoke and CO detectors in my house. They are battery operated and not on any kind of system that would alert a fire department of their activation. Since the house will be vacant, does it matter if I remove the batteries? What do all of you do that have a similar situation?

[RobWNY]

I ask because you hear stories all the time when disaster strikes, where the fire department makes a point to say "There were no working fire/Smoke Detectors in the Home". I don't know if that creates a snag when negotiating a settlement with the Insurance company or if the fire officials are just stressing the importance of detectors.

[DutchmenSport]

I don't think it matters if the house has no occupant. Chances are no one will ever hear the alarm inside a closed house from the street. They will see the fire and smoke though, at that point, smoke alarms don't help anything. Personally, I'd leave the batteries in and working.