Interconnected smoke alarms

[rattle_snake]

Time to replace all the smoke detectors/alarms in my home. It was built in 1999 and has A/C powered, interconnected system.

When the old detectors emit low bat beeps, it is a major pain to find the culprit. With a single level home, I can hear any alarm from any other room making the feature of little value. I understand the benefit in a multi-level or very large home.
I'm hesitant to defeat the interconnected system, since it's already there. Maybe if the newer style lifetime battery (assuming a Lithium) won't emit low battery beeps at 3am, then the interconnectedness aspect won't be such a nuisance.

What would GJ do? Interconnected or not?

 

[acer66]

According to the manufacturers they have an around 10 year lifespan iirc and I just went through that at a rental and just replaced them all since they were all installed at the same time and I did not want to go over there every time one fails.

 

[boatshoes]

Newer ones will blink the light a different color to indicate which one set off the alarm or has a low battery. All will make noise but only the triggered ones will indicate.
What does your local code require for smoke alarms? NFPA says they should be interconnected

 

[rattle_snake]

Given the existing interconnected system, I would say code wants them that way.

 

[The Cobbler]

with ypur house built in 99, I imagine thats the code at the time, if you alter that you could be in for trouble if ever it was found out. I know code here is interconnected on new construction, and pretty sure it applies to major renovations too.
to me, a small inconvenience of a battery beep outweighs the benefit of interconnected. and, if you replace the batteries as the instructions say, you won't get that dead battery signal
Just my opinion...

 

[A**holes Garage]

I installed new ones and disconnected the daisy chain

 

[Jlbc212]

Without interconnected detectors a fire that begins in a basement and sounds the alarm there might not be heard in a bedroom where someone is in a deep sleep. I know in MA, the state where I reside, in the case of a fatal fire the state fire marshall will investigate to determine if all the required smoke detectors were in place, met the code requirements and if they appeared to be functional at the time the fire began. A questionable detector may be sent to a lab for further investigation. Criminal charges and/or civil liabilities may follow.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I can see situations where having all the alarms going off might confuse people trying to get away from the noise (smoke/fire) and either hesitate or run the wrong way. As pointed out above in a larger house that might not be as much of a problem.

 

[The Cobbler]

....disconnected the daisy chain

not smart IMO . peoples lives depend on early detection.

 

[A**holes Garage]

not smart IMO . peoples lives depend on early detection.

Yeah, I know, I have a single level home 2400 sq ft., no kids.
They still have power to each unit, with the battery back up.
Damn things would always go off while I was traveling for work, out of town.
Those POS smoke alarms are hit and miss in QA and sensitivity. Christ, if I open the doors and windows in the house, and a nice breeze blows through, they go off. I've had them go off when we get high winds and the air is blowing hard through the attic as well.

 

[Higgins]

Our house is 20 yrs. old. When we purchased the house 2 yrs ago, we replaced all the detectors. Some didn't even have batteries installed.

Due to the way the house is built they are single stand alone alarms. So we purchased some of the new wireless alarms and they just didn't work out for us.

As out house is 3 levels, there is a concern if an alarm goes off in the lower level, you will not hear it in the Mstr on the 3rd. flr. Or some locations on the 2nd floor.

What I'm looking at is installing 2 HEAT detector alarms in the garage. Then hard wire it a wired alarm in the utility room. Then there is a possibility of getting one in the lower floor ceiling wired into this group.

Unfornatualy, there is no way to get to the detectors in the Great Room, the two bedrooms on the 2nd floor, or the hallway!

 

[jdm5]

If you have the budget look at smart detectors (and leave them interconnected). I went with Nest but I think there are others out there now. They have the 7-10 year battery, but also will txt/email you when things go bad - should tell you when battery (whole unit) needs replacement.

 

[The Cobbler]

from what I understand, new code here is interconnected in each bedroom too .

 

[Git]

I am waiting for Costco to get back in stock a 3 pack of hardwired CO/Smoke detectors with a 10-year lithium battery. I think they were around $90 for the three (we need 6) and everywhere else they were selling for about $40 each. (These also have the voice warning)

 

[Jlbc212]

I can see situations where having all the alarms going off might confuse people trying to get away from the noise (smoke/fire) and either hesitate or run the wrong way. As pointed out above in a larger house that might not be as much of a problem.

It is a good practice to have an escape plan with alternate exits and a central meeting location outside of the house. The plan should also be practiced by all occupants on a regular schedule. In my previous career as firefighter just about every occupied house fire I responded to a distraught person would be outside screaming that someone was still inside. In most of these instances the distraught person was eventually proved wrong.

 

[buzzworth]

from what I understand, new code here is interconnected in each bedroom too .

Within 5' inside and outside the bedroom door, interconnected.

 

[brownbagg]

im going through that today, with one in each bedroom and hall, they are like five feet apart if that and the one in the kitchen properly ten feet, but the battery beeps killing me. we lost power when that rain storm front went through monday, and every one started beeping

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Newer ones will blink the light a different color to indicate which one set off the alarm or has a low battery. All will make noise but only the triggered ones will indicate.
What does your local code require for smoke alarms? NFPA says they should be interconnected

X2, and they need to be combo smoke/CO and hardwire powered if in a bedroom. Rooms with fuel burning appliances need to be combo smoke/CO.

Tommy

 

[teamextreme]

Just replace all the batteries at the same time. If you hear one beeping, they're likely all close anyway. Don't need to figure out which one it is.

 

[onewheat]

I probably have 12-15 interconnected ones in the house. When one gets weak, it beeps but none of the others do. I had one of my talking ones need a battery - which only EVER happens between 2 and 5 A.M, of course, and that one was such a PITA to get to shut up - just replacing the battery didn't do it. There was some reset procedure I had to Google and do after pulling the ladder back out a second time because the first time I assumed it was fixed and put the ladder away. Two minutes later it talked again "Low Battery". Detectors batteries NEVER fail during waking hours.

 

[CraigStu]

I don't especially like the inter connected ones either. But I live w/ them because they are code. Having sold a house 6 years ago and one last year, believe me they will be checked by the buyer's home inspector. And then you have to bring them up to code while pressure is on to sell the house. Not fun.

 

[PelicanPines]

Change all the batteries on a schedule... problem goes away...

Start a house calendar... every *** years do this... do that once a year... check your OIL Every week month...

or do you wait for the oil light ???

Be smart... don't count on your device to be smarter than you.

 

[acer66]

Change all the batteries on a schedule... problem goes away...

Start a house calendar... every *** years do this... do that once a year... check your OIL Every week month...

or do you wait for the oil light ???

Be smart... don't count on your device to be smarter than you.

Very good points, I started to put reminders for things like maintenance tasks in the calendar of my phone which really helps me to stay on top of things.

 

[PelicanPines]

Very good points, I started to put reminders for things like maintenance tasks in the calendar of my phone which really helps me to stay on top of things.

I connected my homes alexa to my garage calender... done. Now I just say... Yo, Alexa... remind me in three years to replace the Flux Capacitor in the Fraxtabulator Module

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I don't especially like the inter connected ones either. But I live w/ them because they are code. Having sold a house 6 years ago and one last year, believe me they will be checked by the buyer's home inspector. And then you have to bring them up to code while pressure is on to sell the house. Not fun.

I have never understood home inspectors. How many people are going to spend at least $500 to put in all new smoke detectors on an older house? I can see it happening sometimes in hot markets, but for the rest of the country...

 

[PelicanPines]

I have never understood home inspectors. How many people are going to spend at least $500 to put in all new smoke detectors on an older house? I can see it happening sometimes in hot markets, but for the rest of the country...

You can't get a certificate of occupancy in some states without them. Can't get a mortgage without a certificate of occupancy...

I don't hire a home inspector. I bring my builder buddy and we go thru the house in far more detail than a home inspector would. My buddy usually brings his roofing guy.

Costs me a lunch and two cases of the best beer they find.