Upgrading to a digital smoke / gas detector could save your life. These detectors have a PIERCING alarm. In May, my friend's children slept through the alarm of the traditional smoke detector - she thought it was her son's alarm clock. They also have rechargable lithium batteries so you never have to deal with that annoying CHIRP when the batteries are low. Also, they detect GAS in addition to carbon dioxide. LTKSeasonal LTKOver40 LTKHome