Tracking down which one needed a new coin cell felt like a scavenger hunt, and nobody wants to be popping trim at 2am.
That right there hits home. I can’t count how many times I’ve been woken up by a random beep, trying to figure out if it’s the smoke alarm or one of those sensors. I swear, they always pick the worst possible time. My house is pushing 80 years old, with all the quirks that come with it—half the windows are original, so trying to run new wires is basically a non-starter unless I want to tear up plaster and risk finding who-knows-what behind the walls. But those batteries… yeah, they drive me up the wall.
I do get why folks go wireless, especially if you’re renting or just don’t want to deal with patching holes. But honestly, if you’ve got the patience (and maybe a little luck), wired setups are kind of a “set it and forget it” deal. My neighbor did a full retrofit when he renovated his place—took forever, but he hasn’t touched a sensor in years.
Funny thing, though: one time I tried those “long-life” coin cells thinking I’d get a break from the midnight hunt. Didn’t even last a full year. Maybe it’s just our cold winters? Or maybe those sensors just eat batteries for breakfast.
Anyway, you’re not alone in this. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth mapping out every sensor location on my phone just so I’m not crawling around half-awake next time. But then again, that sounds like more work than just swapping a battery every now and then…
But honestly, if you’ve got the patience (and maybe a little luck), wired setups are kind of a “set it and forget it” deal. My neighbor did a full retrofit when he renovated his place—took forever, but he hasn’t touched a sensor in years.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d argue that “set it and forget it” with wired sensors is only true until you run into wiring issues or have to replace a window. In older homes, especially with original windows and plaster walls, fishing new wires can be a nightmare—sometimes you end up causing more problems than you solve. I’ve seen folks open up what looked like an easy spot, only to discover old knob-and-tube or hidden pipes right where they wanted to run cable.
Wireless definitely has its headaches (the battery roulette is real), but at least you’re not risking damaging trim or plaster every time you need to upgrade or move something. And about those coin cells—cold winters can zap battery life fast, especially in sashes that aren’t well insulated.
Honestly, both systems have their quirks. For me, the occasional disconnect on smart sensors is less hassle than tearing into 80-year-old walls for wiring repairs... but maybe I just have bad luck with old plaster.