Small Object, Big Dangers: 9-Volt Battery Safety

They're smaller than two inches in size, but 9-volt batteries can cause big problems if stored improperly. The batteries are most commonly placed in a junk drawer, we all have them, but what's mixed in with the batteries can cause a fire in your home.

"If they come in contact with something metal, whether it be a pair of scissors or steel wool, it will ignite and if there are combustibles near there, it will ignite it, and you'll have a fire,” said Guy Santone, chief fire inspector for the city of Erie.

Santone remembers one fire in particular stemming from a 9-volt battery. When the Erie Fire Department searched for a cause, they were led to the kitchen of the home, where Santone and his team found the remnants of a junk drawer.

"So we talked to the homeowner to find out what kind of items were in the drawer, and they mentioned all kinds of different things. But they also mentioned there was a half-open bag of steel wool,” Santone said.

So we put it to the test to see how dangerous the reaction between a 9-volt battery and steel wool would be, and with a bucket of water nearby, Santone sets the two side-by-side. The wool ignites instantly. So what makes these batteries a greater threat than other kinds?

"The problem with the 9-volt batteries is that the terminals are on the same side, the positive and the negative,” Santone explains. “So what happens is if you touch a piece of metal, it will create an arc, a short circuit, and that's what causes the ignition on the steel wool.”

So what do you do with your 9-volt batteries when they're dead or perhaps you just don't need them anymore? Well, Santone says disposing them in a trash can is not the answer.

"There are places in the area that dispose of used batteries. Contact them, and that's how you. The proper of disposing of these,” he advises.

These, of course, are the dangers of misusing 9-volt batteries. When stored and used properly, they can actually save your life, with the use of a smoke detector.

"If you're in a junk drawer and a 9-volt battery comes in contact with something and you leave the room, the only way you're going to know if there's a fire in there is from the smoke detector,” Santone said.

These batteries typically come with a protective case to prevent contact with other objects. If they do not come with that case, Santone says placing a strip of tape across the terminals will also protect you and your family.

Back to Home