Smoke and CO alarms
New alarms, tested while you watch
Most smoke alarms are made to be replaced about ten years after the date printed on the back. CO alarms carry their own date, often five to ten years. I check both, and tell you which ones to change.
Signs it is time
The date on the back is ten or more years old.
It chirps even with a fresh battery.
There is none on a floor of the house, or outside the bedrooms.
Yellowed plastic, or paint over the alarm.
You are not sure when anyone last checked.
The visit
What happens when I come
- 01
I check what is there
I look at every alarm, read its date, and tell you which ones to change.
- 02
I take down the old ones
Hardwired or battery, I remove it and cap off anything I leave behind.
- 03
I fit the new ones
Where they are needed, with hardwired alarms linked so they sound together where the wiring allows.
- 04
I test every one
I press each button with you present, and leave a note of the date to change them next.
Price
What decides the price of this job
The full answer is on the pricing page. For this job:
How many alarms
Each floor and each bedroom area is a count, and the count drives most of the price.
Hardwired or battery
Replacing a hardwired alarm with the same kind is quicker than running a new wire.
Your hardware or mine
If you bought the alarms, the estimate leaves them out.
Questions
Questions about this visit
How often should alarms be replaced?
Most smoke alarms are made to be replaced about ten years after they were made. The date is on the back. A CO alarm has its own date, often five to ten years. Check the label on yours.
My alarm is chirping. Is something wrong?
A short chirp usually means a low battery or an alarm at the end of its life. Check the date on the back. If it sounds a full alarm and you see smoke, leave and call 911.
Do you do carbon monoxide alarms too?
Yes. I fit CO alarms and combined smoke and CO alarms, and I tell you where each one belongs.
Can you replace the alarm wired into my ceiling?
Usually. If the wiring or the base plate is unusual, I tell you before I start and write down what the visit will include.
Book an alarm visit
Tell me how many floors and bedrooms the house has. I will say what the visit would cover.