Do I really need an electrician to work on my smoke detectors?
Well, not always. Many smoke detectors are battery powered.
Many modern homes, however, have hard-wired smoke detectors with battery backups. You need an electrician to install or perform maintenance on hard-wired smoke & carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.
We install only smoke alarms that are triple protection with 10-year sealed battery. This detection is CO, photoelectric, and ionization. No matter the location, we install 3-in-1 in ALL locations. This detection provides the maximum protection.
Smoke & CO Detector FAQ’s
You should replace smoke detectors every 10 years and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors every 7 to 10 years, depending on the manufacturer’s guidelines. Over time, the sensors inside wear out and become less reliable—even if the test button still works.
Most detectors have a manufacture date stamped on the back. If yours are past their expiration – or you’re not sure – it’s best to play it safe and replace them.
During your SaFE System Evaluation, our Electrical Safety Advisors will check the age of your detectors, test them properly, and help you upgrade to newer, safer models if needed. It’s a simple step that can make a life-saving difference.
You should replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors at least once a year—even if they haven’t started chirping yet.
Here are a few ways to make sure you remember to change them each year:
- When you change your clocks for Daylight Saving Time
- On your birthday – candle flames = smoke detectors!
- Christmas morning (since you’ll be knee-deep in batteries anyway)
- As preparation for your New Years Eve party (nobody wants to hear chirping smoke alarms on National Hangover Day … I mean New Years Day.)
Some newer detectors come with sealed 10-year batteries, which don’t need to be replaced – instead the entire unit still needs to be replaced after 10 years. And if your detector starts chirping or showing a low-battery warning sooner? Replace the battery right away.
Ionization and photoelectric are the two main types of smoke detection – having both gives you the best protection.
Ionization smoke detectors are faster at sensing fast-flaming fires, like when paper or grease ignites suddenly. They work by detecting changes in electrical current caused by smoke particles.
Photoelectric smoke detectors are better at catching slow, smoldering fires, like a couch or wiring that burns slowly and produces lots of smoke before flames. These use a light sensor to detect smoke particles scattering the beam.
Different types of fires produce different kinds of smoke, so having both types of detectors – or a dual-sensor detector – means you’ll get an earlier warning no matter what kind of fire starts.
