Replacing Smoke Detectors

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Recently, I was off living in the woods as I do a couple of times a year and my wife called me at night. One of the smoke detectors kept going off and it was too high on the wall for her to safely reach. I told her to call the fire dept and they gladly came out an disabled it. Our house was built in 2002 and the smoke detectors bore that date. The firefighter told J that they needed to be replaced due to age/technology.

After a bit of research, I ordered First Alert BRK 9120b. They were a near perfect replacement for my old BRK4120. The AC plug was identical but the mount was slightly different. I only had to loosen two screws, remove the old mount, install the new mount, and tighten the screws back up. All is now well with no chirping and high functioning alarms.

If you have BRK4120s in your older home, the 9120b is the way to go.

[villagetinker]

Thanks for the info, and the firemen were correct, as I recall smoke detectors should be changed every 10 years.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

I should add that the 9120 only costs around $10 apiece and come with a 9 volt battery installed. I got mine from Home Depot online.

[Ecuadog]

My house was built in 2004.

In 2015, I decided it was time to change all the detectors. I replaced the one carbon monoxide detector with a BRK CO5120BN. I replaced six of the smoke detectors with BRK 9120B (Ionization smoke sensing) devices. The smoke detector in the bedroom was replaced with a BRK 7010B (Photoelectric smoke sensing).

In 2016, I replaced all the 9 volt batteries with 10-year lithium batteries. Hopefully, the house is good through 2025, batteries and all.

[It's Hot There]

Good to know.

[Toymeister]

The smoke detectors are mounted in standard light boxes. If you remove the mounting plate you have the same screw pattern. Yes, you might have the rewire the plug but that is awful easy for anyone that is on a DIY forum. The detectors need replaced after 10 years. In some homes there are six of more detectors so a modest savings on one can add up. That is a lot to say buy whichever one you want and makes you happy!

[DangeloInspections]

This is a very controversial and contentious subject. To further obscure the issue, technology is changing.

I have personally spoken to the world's foremost authority on the subject, Skip Walker.

Here is a great article he wrote;

Photoelectric vs Ionization Smoke Alarms - Deadly Differences (http://www.propertyevaluation.net/Photoelectric%20vs%20Ionization%20Smoke%20Alarms%2 0-%20Deadly%20Differences.html)

Basically it says the following;

1) Yes, any smoke detector over 10 years old should be tossed and replaced.

2) Most homes, including brand new homes in The Villages, have Ionization Detectors. They pass code and work best for live flame fires. They are less expensive. Again, they PASS CODE. No, I cannot write them up as an issue. They pass code.

3) HOWEVER, read the article. The newest research indicates that more lives are saved each day with the slightly more expensive Photoelectric smoke alarms. Some places are now requiring them instead of the Ionization detectors.

Basically, if you are going to replace them, you may want to take a good look at the Photoelectric ones.....

Hope this helps....

Frank

[Toymeister]

Funny most photo eye models cost more but not the p12040 by kiddie. 9.08 each on Amazon.

[jeriteri]

If you want to test your smoke detectors just put extra cheese on your pizza when you bake it. It will give you sufficient smoke to signal all your detectors and they will all start beeping, Very Loudly!