Hardwired Powered Smoke Alarms—are yours up to date?

One of the most important fixtures in your home for safety and peace of mind is a smoke detector. A combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector should be installed outside every bedroom, within 10 feet of the bedroom door for maximum efficiency.

How long have the smoke alarms been installed in your home? Are they hardwired, or battery-powered? The National Fire Protection Association recommends that all smoke/carbon monoxide detectors be replaced at least every 10 years. Over time, dust gathers inside the smoke detector, desensitizing the sensors. Even if a smoke alarm hasn’t reached the 10-year mark, if you notice a distinctive chirp even after you’ve replaced the batteries or if it doesn’t sound when you perform the recommended annual test of your fire alarm system, it’s time to change them out.

Hardwired smoke alarms, while they require slightly more work upfront, are a clear choice if you’re considering replacing your home’s smoke alarm system. You’ll hardly ever have to deal with the annoying “chirping” that occurs when a battery-powered smoke detector begins to go dead, and your entire family will be alerted in the event that a fire does occur since hardwire smoke detectors can be interconnected.

If you are considering replacing your battery-powered smoke or carbon monoxide alarms with a hardwired system, or if your current hardwired system is due for replacement, we can upgrade or update your system.