Help Choosing A Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector.

[427HISS]

We've always had a smoke detector in our hallway and another in the basement, but we just had a new furnace and A/C installed the is 98% efficient. Now we want a fire/smoke and carbon monoxide detector combo. We have a small house that is built very tightly sealed outside walls, with 3 bedrooms and basement around 1,000 sq.ft. The hallway is short that goes south to each bedroom, bathroom then north to the kitchen, livingroom and dining room. I'm very confused on what we need and locations. Some say one per floor and others on every bedroom, hallway and basement. The top First Alert is a "smart" one and able to detect non-fire's like just steam and cooking smoke. I know that we don't put one in the bathroom and kitchen because of false detections.

My wife's company that she works for bought everyone a plug-in,... carbon monoxide detector which I don't like because if the power goes out and takes up space in the wall outlet or power strip. Makes no sense to me ? I don't want to be cheap on safety but don't want to spend money being overboard either.

Should I get the expensive First Alert for the hallway then just smoke alarm in the middle between the kitchn, livingroom and diningroom, then another First Alert smoke and carbon monoxide detector in the basement ?

First Alert-

$18 to $35

Amazon.com : dual sensor smoke alarm with carbon monoxide detector

https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-SCO5CN-Combination-Monoxide/dp/B000MXJ498/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-Sensor-Smoke-SA3210/dp/B011O2WVCW?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-PRC710-Combination-Alarm/dp/B00ON6M56Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Amazon list page-

Amazon.com : dual sensor smoke alarm with carbon monoxide detector

OR OTHERS ?

 

[Maddog3355]

I use the ones Menards sells that are rated for 10 years. I like to have multiples. I would think first alert would be good as gold.

 

[Jarwop]

I stumbled on the following youtube about smoke dectors last month. Might be worth watching.

 

[35Ford]

Combination smoke / carbon monoxide detector on each level and outside the bedrooms, BRK #SC7010BV
Smoke detector only in the bedrooms, BRK # 7010B
These are interconnected hard wired with battery backup. There are a lot of other options that will get the job done including battery only units with WiFi interconnect. Your local electrician or fire department should be able to help you out.

 

[Fixr]

I will toss in something: About ten years ago I had to get CO detectors at work. In the process, I read that there are different types of sensors used, and that one type basically got more sensitive with age and would start giving false alarms. At the low cost of the ones we used, we just replaced them every 3 years or so, or when they started blaring every time we pulled a car into the shop.

 

[paranoid56]

i have the nest one and it talks to me lol. $$ but neat tech

 

[BrandonV]

If you're not hardwiring anything I'd just go with the PRC710.

The more stuff they jam into smoke alarms the more I find they act up.

PRC710 will alert when SHTF which is all that matters.

 

[bbxlr8]

I use the first alert dedicated CO in my basement near oil furnace, in FR near the woodstove and a combo on main central area in upstairs. Also in detached working garage where I use a propane tube or Mr Heater (in lieu of reinstalling dual vent wall furnace I brought from my old place).

They do have a shelf life but I get closer to 8-10 before weird stuff. The first alert one has 9V backup in addition to plug.
I also have monitored system detectors on every level - replace those every 10y

 

[Fav Onefour]

If you're not hardwiring anything I'd just go with the PRC710.

The more stuff they jam into smoke alarms the more I find they act up.

PRC710 will alert when SHTF which is all that matters.

Dang good advice. Keep it simple.

Should have one CO on each level in your home. One unit on combustible appliance level. One for sleeping level. It's fine to use combo units if you like, but don't spend money on them for each bedroom. A lot of the combo units have fancy doo dads built into them. The voice stuff is ok, but the function doesn't improve because some voice is telling you it's fire or CO.

BTW, with any CO detector, get one with ten year battery. You have to replace the unit anyhow. They have expiration dates and ten years is the long end.

Thank God these things have come down in price. Every time some new rule comes along, it means adding more units. Inspectors seem fond of coming up with new places to put these things. I'm shocked how many of these things I'm buying.

 

[BrandonV]

Dang good advice. Keep it simple.

Should have one CO on each level in your home. One unit on combustible appliance level. One for sleeping level. It's fine to use combo units if you like, but don't spend money on them for each bedroom. A lot of the combo units have fancy doo dads built into them. The voice stuff is ok, but the function doesn't improve because some voice is telling you it's fire or CO.

BTW, with any CO detector, get one with ten year battery. You have to replace the unit anyhow. They have expiration dates and ten years is the long end.

Thank God these things have come down in price. Every time some new rule comes along, it means adding more units. Inspectors seem fond of coming up with new places to put these things. I'm shocked how many of these things I'm buying.

Honestly in any home I've lived in I usually rip the smoke/CO detectors out and replace them with a commercial fire panel w/ low voltage detector (no expiration). I can't stand consumer grade alarms... The plus side is I get some sweet ceiling junction boxes back .

 

[Fav Onefour]

Honestly in any home I've lived in I usually rip the smoke/CO detectors out and replace them with a commercial fire panel w/ low voltage detector (no expiration). I can't stand consumer grade alarms... The plus side is I get some sweet ceiling junction boxes back .

I'm interested in that setup. The consumer grade stuff is just that. It needs plenty of maintenance.

We have a pretty fancy setup in one place and the CO detectors only have eight year lifespan. Those buggers are spendy and a real hassle to replace. I always need to find my admin access just to swap the units.

 

[BrandonV]

I'm interested in that setup. The consumer grade stuff is just that. It needs plenty of maintenance.

We have a pretty fancy setup in one place and the CO detectors only have eight year lifespan. Those buggers are spendy and a real hassle to replace. I always need to find my admin access just to swap the units.

One of those nasty habits of being in the industry... . Even the residential Ademco/Honeywell/Resideo panels can do it. Really no different than a wired alarm system (supervision/etc.). If I wasn't licensed by the state I probably wouldn't do it for liability reasons.

Honestly the biggest issue with super tall, vaulted ceilings I only want to get on a ladder ONCE.

 

[Two Sheds]

I put in Gentex photoelectric smoke alarms a few years ago, and no longer have false alarms. The model I used has been discontinued, but I assume the new series is of similar quality.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Buy a Kidde smoke detector with a 10 year battery and a plug in CO detector with digital read out.

 

[Fav Onefour]

One of those nasty habits of being in the industry... . Even the residential Ademco/Honeywell/Resideo panels can do it. Really no different than a wired alarm system (supervision/etc.). If I wasn't licensed by the state I probably wouldn't do it for liability reasons.

Honestly the biggest issue with super tall, vaulted ceilings I only want to get on a ladder ONCE.

I'll have to see what I can find. My fancy system works with anything I program. I've been using Honeywell CO detectors that only have eight year lifespan.

 

[BrandonV]

I'll have to see what I can find. My fancy system works with anything I program. I've been using Honeywell CO detectors that only have eight year lifespan.

So commercial grade smoke detectors tend to not require replacement if they're still testing good but all CO detectors have a finite lifespan.

 

[Fav Onefour]

So commercial grade smoke detectors tend to not require replacement if they're still testing good but all CO detectors have a finite lifespan.

That's a good question about smoke versions. I honestly don't know for sure. I have not seen anything newer that "lasts" over ten years. The higher end units don't seem to get tired and give false alarms.
They used to market some spendy jobbers that supposedly lasted a lifetime. I'm not even sure what that means. They didn't start chirping because of age.
I'd be surprised if anything lasts a lifetime based on liability concerns.
The basic heat detectors don't have much inside them that can age. They still say you should replace them.

If there is something that truly lasts more than ten years I'm curious. I spend a ton of time and money on these things. I keep a case of detectors on hand just in case. I verify expiration dates each spring on all units. I replace anything within a year of end dating during spring inspection.
I deal with a pile of different inspectors during the year. They are pretty consistent about checking detectors before anything passes. There is a reason why they make such a big deal out of working units.

On a side note, I'm shocked by how many people can let those things chirp. I've heard neighbors chirp for weeks. Our realtor has an inside joke about how long it will take to find a chirping detector with every building we tour. I think there's a whole culture of people that have muted that sound in their heads.

 

[BrandonV]

That's a good question about smoke versions. I honestly don't know for sure. I have not seen anything newer that "lasts" over ten years. The higher end units don't seem to get tired and give false alarms.
They used to market some spendy jobbers that supposedly lasted a lifetime. I'm not even sure what that means. They didn't start chirping because of age.
I'd be surprised if anything lasts a lifetime based on liability concerns.
The basic heat detectors don't have much inside them that can age. They still say you should replace them.

If there is something that truly lasts more than ten years I'm curious. I spend a ton of time and money on these things. I keep a case of detectors on hand just in case. I verify expiration dates each spring on all units. I replace anything within a year of end dating during spring inspection.
I deal with a pile of different inspectors during the year. They are pretty consistent about checking detectors before anything passes. There is a reason why they make such a big deal out of working units.

On a side note, I'm shocked by how many people can let those things chirp. I've heard neighbors chirp for weeks. Our realtor has an inside joke about how long it will take to find a chirping detector with every building we tour. I think there's a whole culture of people that have muted that sound in their heads.

Generally in industry (and this is changing) with commercial systems (low voltage) where there is no alarm component in the detector but rather a central system we test the sensitivity of each detector and as long as it passes it's good to keep running.

NFPA 72 doesn't state any hard deadlines about replacing smoke detectors connected to a central panel. For residential integrated alarms it's 10 years.