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Fire Prevention - Replace Your Smoke Detectors

Your Home’s Silent Guardian: Don’t Let Smoke Detectors Expire

Replacing smoke detector batteries with the time change is a well-known practice. And if you forget, modern units chirp when the battery dies. But, did you know that a smoke detector lifespan is only 10 years? After 10 years, it is time to replace your smoke detectors.

Do Wired Smoke Alarms Expire?

Yes! The sensor degrades over time. Various articles attribute it to a build up of dust, insects and other contaimnants. There can also be corrosion of the electrical components.

How Long Do Smoke Detectors Last?

A smoke detector lifespan is 10 years. Whether you have a battery operated smoke detector or a hard-wired smoke detector, it should be replaced at 10 years.

Our Experiences with Smoke Detector Lifespan Failures

Neighbor’s Fire

A house in our neighborhood had a fire. The fire department shared that the smoke detectors failed in the house because they were over 10 years old. (The house was about 12 years old). Our house was less than 10 years old at the time, so I set it aside for the time.

Our House

Even though our house was approaching 12 years at time, replacing smoke detectors was on the back burner. Then, we had two separate cooking incidents in a 3 week span.

In the first incident, I heated canola oil past its smoke point trying to make corn fritters. The second time, a previous overflow of sugary syrup in the oven caused smoke. In both incidents, the first floor and even upstairs filled with smoke. Our smoke alarms stayed silent both times. 

Obviously their replacement was no longer a back burner issue. Then it was time to research new smoke detectors.

Smoke Detector Types

There are a variety of options for smoke detectors – power, connections, combo units, and even smart smoke detectors.

Installation Methods

There are two installation methods for smoke detectors: hard-wired or battery operated. The hard-wired detectors and select battery operated detectors are interconnected smoke alarms and sound throughout the house. while the battery detectors are typically not-connected.

Even hardwired smoke detectors have a backup battery in case of power outages. Our house has hard-wired smoke detectors since it was built in the early 2000s.

Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Detectors vs Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are available in combination with carbon monoxide detectors or standalone. There are also two different types of smoke detectors.

My husband and I debated between combination Carbon Monoxide combo units and standalone Smoke Detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors cannot be installed in certain locations. They cannot be close to a fuel burning appliance or a humidity source (i.e. a shower). This ruled out installation in a few locations in our house.

We decided to use Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors in the rooms where we routinely sleep and on the first floor. We installed regular smoke detectors in the other locations.

Replacement Smoke Detectors

The hard-wired smoke detectors have a plug on the wires to allow the smoke detectors snap easily in and out. The easiest way to install smoke detectors is to replace them with the same brand using the same plug configuration. This makes replacement quick and easy with no dealing with electrical wires.

Unfortunately, our old smoke detectors were the FireX brand which are now manufactured by Kidde. The new units have a different wiring harness and plug configuration than our previous detectors. We really did not want to rewire our detectors.

Fortunately, I found Kidde KA-B, KA-F Universal Smoke Alarm Adapter Plugs. They convert our original plug to the new Kidde configuration. A few dollars per quick convert adapter was much better than the effort to rewire all of our smoke detectors.

We initially ordered one Kidde KN-COPE-I AC Wire-in Combo CO/Photo Smoke Alarm and one Kidde KA-B, KA-F Universal Smoke Alarm Adapters. We started with one to verify the conversion kit worked. It did! It was quick and easy!

We ordered additional units and completed the replacements. I also marked my calendar for September 2024 for replacement.

Replacing Smoke Detectors

Did you know that smoke detectors expire? Are your smoke detectors expired?

We found manufacture dates on the bottom of ours. Others may have the expiration date listed. Simply pull your detectors down and check the date.

You can now purchase a battery powered smoke detector with a 10 year battery. These models are sealed and don’t allow for battery replacement. The battery life is designed to natch the smoke detector life expectancy.

There are also battery powered smoke detectors that use a traditional 9V battery. But don’t forget to replace the battery regularly.

No matter what unit you buy, make sure to mark your calendar for the life of the smoke detector.

Disclosure: Links below may be affiliate links. Ann Arbor with Kids receives a commission on sales. We appreciate your support by shopping through our links.

How long are hard-wired smoke detectors good for? They also last for 10 years.

Disposing of Old Smoke Detectors

Part of replacing smoke detectors is properly disposing of them. The last time we replaced ours, we didn’t know about a recycling program and disposed of ours (in the trash).

If you are local to Ann Arbor, the Washtenaw County’s Household Toxin Reduction Program offers collection of Hazardous Household Waste. Smoke Detectors are on the list of what they accept. In addition to smoke detectors, they accept a number of flammable liquids. Safely disposing of these liquids also helps you reduce the risk of fire.

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2 thoughts on “Your Home’s Silent Guardian: Don’t Let Smoke Detectors Expire”

  1. Do you plan to replace your smoke detector with smoke and carbon monoxide detector? It is a combo type and provides more functions for you. It is much better since it will also detect carbon monoxide instead of only smoke.

    You know that carbon monoxide is poison gas and can kill you in almost no times.

    And to make sure that such detector will always work, try to purchase one with dual power or battery back up. So, it will be no interruption even though in power outage.

    Have you considered this replacement?

  2. I replaced some of ours with combo units. Not the ones in unoccupied bedrooms or in areas where carbon monoxide detectors are not advised. They all have a battery backup.

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