Replacing hard wired smoke detectors

tb4100

Hi I have two hard wired smoke detectors that need replacing, we are assuming they are over 10 years .

My question is there a best make , design or anything I should know there are so many to choose from I am completely bewildered, any advice would be grateful. x

Doozergirl

Nest!

They're absolutely brilliant. Smoke and CO, it also alerts you if it thinks it's your cooking causing the smoke and gives you the chance to turn it off before everything goes off.

The app will alert you anywhere, so if there's a problem when you're out. It also lights your way in the dark!

Have a look at the website. They aren't cheap but I think they provide excellent peace of mind and test themselves, something I know we're terrible at in our house, unless the husband is cooking!

Risteard

Ei Electronics (also marketed as Aico) are the best domestic smoke/CO detectors on the market. Needless to say, they are not the cheapest.

tb4100

Thank you both will look into them at least I have a good starting point x

Grenage

Risteard wrote: »

Ei Electronics (also marketed as Aico) are the best domestic smoke/CO detectors on the market. Needless to say, they are not the cheapest.

These are what I use in my home; very happy with them.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Second the Nest Protect recommendation. They are designed to last 7 years I believe. Makes a good night light for the landing too.

Jamie_Carter

tb4100 wrote: »

Hi I have two hard wired smoke detectors that need replacing, we are assuming they are over 10 years .

My question is there a best make , design or anything I should know there are so many to choose from I am completely bewildered, any advice would be grateful. x

Do they still work?

The backup battery will need changing annually, but if the alarm still works then there should be no need to change them.

Remember to test them weekly by pressing the button. Also occasionally you could light a candle then blow it out and hold it under the detector while it is still smoking.

If they don't work and you have to replace them, then it may still be possible to find replacements of the same make that will fit on the existing base plates. Usually there is a slot on one side of the detector where you insert a small flat screwdriver to release the catch, then slide it away from the slot.

TheCyclingProgrammer

If the smoke detectors are over 10 years old they should be replaced.

Norman_Castle

I've got Aico alarms which seem good. The back up batteries have a 10+ year life and the alarms have replacement dates on them. They're about £30 so £3 per year for 10 years.

Rodders53

All the well known brands are much of a muchness for mains interconnected types.
Go for 10 year battery backup types, cheaper over the 10 year alarm lifetime!

If you replace with same brand as there is installed now, you may be able to simply replace onto existing wiring backplate. (Do check with maker though, they do sometimes update things and give problems). Another make will require you to isolate mains supply and rewire onto the new backplate... easy enough if you feel competent to do so... But some may need an electrician to do that.

I chose Kidde when my last home's 7 year life alarm needed replacing. Thought they were better looking and the lights were better shielded so lit up the hall less at night (swmbo prefers it dark at night).

System

Doozergirl wrote: »

Nest!

They're absolutely brilliant. Smoke and CO, it also alerts you if it thinks it's your cooking causing the smoke and gives you the chance to turn it off before everything goes off.

The app will alert you anywhere, so if there's a problem when you're out. It also lights your way in the dark!

Have a look at the website. They aren't cheap but I think they provide excellent peace of mind and test themselves, something I know we're terrible at in our house, unless the husband is cooking!

My one major issue with nest (aside from the cost) is that they are yet to make a compliant heat detector, so you can't have them in a new build as an interconnected system where you need a heat detector. I hope they get their finger out and develop one which meets the Eurocode and BS requirements...

I tend to spec the kidde ones where i can