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[Seannie]

Hi All, 

  Any brand name suggestions for new battery-operated smoke detectors for our primary residence and a small second home in another state?  We will probably buy 6 total.  

  Particularly want to avoid models that go off randomly and have false alarms as don't wish to irritate neighbors when we are not present at either location.

TIA, Seannie

[SteelerFaninMD]

I replaced all the units, included one combo smoke/CO detector with the Kidde brand, recommended by 3 different electricians.  I got the newer ones that have a 10yr sealed in battery.  So, you don't need to replace batteries, just the unit itself every 10yrs.  Apparently the older model devices have a life-expectancy of 10yrs.

[NicksmomESQ]

@Seannie   You can't go wrong with Kidde or First Alert. I just had new smoke detectors put in my home. One was hard wired with a 10 year battery backup. The other was a regular one with a 10 year battery.

    Having one with a 10 year battery is more convenient IMO. After about ten years you replace the whole unit.In between you don't have to change the batteries every 6 months.

[SilleeMee]

I have the kind with a 10-year battery, (First Alert) you never need to change the battery and you throw the whole thing away after 10 years. 

Just so you know all smoke detectors, hard-wired included (those are not permanent), need to be replaced after 10 years. The technology within them is only good for that long. 

[Kachina624]

My guess is there are Federal standards which they all must meet making them all about the same.

[FlyersGirl]

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@SteelerFaninMD wrote:

I replaced all the units, included one combo smoke/CO detector with the Kidde brand, recommended by 3 different electricians.  I got the newer ones that have a 10yr sealed in battery.  So, you don't need to replace batteries, just the unit itself every 10yrs.  Apparently the older model devices have a life-expectancy of 10yrs.

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These are what I have. So happy that I don't have to replace batteries every year. 

[stevieb]

I don't want anything with a battery you can't access or without a shut off switch. Some of them are too sensitive and one way or another I want to be able to turn the thing off without resorting to a battering ram...

[VaBelle35]

I have First Alert Smoke/Co2 Combos.  Mine are wired together because I live in a townhouse, so if the basement one goes off after about 5 seconds the other 2 go off as well.

The newer ones are better at determining the difference between cooking and a real fire.  My main level one is near my kitchen and my old one would go off at least once a week, just from the toaster alone.

This new one goes off probably once a year.

[BirkiLady]

@stevieb  As the owner of a 4-plex that was completely destroyed in a massive fire at 6:00 AM, removing the battery or turning it off completely eliminates the reasons for having fire alarms. You are breaking the law.

The potential for injury and death (not to mention loss of property) is very high and very expensive. Fortunately, all of our tenants were able to evacuate the building safely (in their nightclothes). However, they lost all personal possessions and their vehicles, which were inside the attached garages.  I had insisted they all carry renter's insurance, which wasn't enough for them to begin again and gave each renter $1,000 out of my pocket so they could find other places to live.

Then, I had the expenses of paying the City for the water used to fight the fire, the ambulances for the tenants, the destruction of the brick building and removal of the debris, filling in the hole left, and the expense of designing and rebuilding a 6-plex. All after the First Inspector took their time to inspect it thoroughly with me and my insurance agent. You have no idea what a horror, fear, expense, chaotic and lengthy process it was.

Please don't ever disconnect your fire alarm! 

[stevieb]

@BirkiLady  You had a dreadful and very sad experience. Fortunately or unfortunately, as the case may be, I don't own a 4plex. I do, however, live in a condo and as far as I'm concerned, condo management does an inadequate job of ensuring residents have functional smoke detectors, though they are vigilant about those in the common areas. That said, as with many multiple unit dwellings, some units have alarms installed in the most ridiculous areas meaning that any hint of cooking smoke sets them off. If newer or better alarms are less sensitive to cooking smoke that's wonderful but unfortunately not everyone has them... When smoke detectors go off, they're loud and intrusive and when they go off for reasons other than a fire, they do need to be silenced, however temporarily. No one wants to sit and listen to their own or a neighbor's alarm to go off until the smoke clears naturally because someone burnt the toast...