Smoke And Carbon Detectors
Important Information:  Smoke detector manufacturers recommend replacing smoke detectors at least every 10 years. Research shows 30% of detectors fail after 10 years, 50% after 15 years!

Years in service	Failure rate
1 year	3%
10 years	30%
15 years	50%
30 years	100%

An excerpt:  (NFPA 72 Sectdion 10.4.7, emphasis added)

10.4.7 Replacement of Smoke Alarms in One- and Two Family Dwellings. Unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer's published instructions, single- and multiple-stations smoke alarms installed in one- and two-family dwellings shall be replaced when they fail to respond to operability tests, but shall not remain in service longer than 10 years from the date of manufacture.

We're used to getting calls occasionally to replace defective smoke detectors, now we know why.  This should become a planned maintenance item.  How old is your house and your detectors?  .

General Information
Enjoying life ?  How about ensuring that you and your family are around to enjoy more?  Reports have shown that over half of the smoke detectors in homes are not functioning properly.  Sometimes , it's as simple as a dead battery, or sometimes, people have even removed the battery all together!

There are 3 basic types of smoke detector installations:

1. Battery only (9 volt) which are simply attached to the ceiling.  These are usually found in homes built before 1980 or so and NOT something you want to bet your life on.

2. 'Hard-wired' 120 volt smoke detectors.  Homes built after 1980.  These are wired similarly to lights, etc., but they are also interconnected so that if 1 detector senses smoke, all the detectors go off.  This is so you hear the alarm even if you're in another part of the house. .  In case of a power outage during a fire or even something as simple as a rain storm, this type of fire alarm is renderd useless

3. 'Hard-wired' low voltage smoke detectors.  ( Homes With Security Systems.)  These are part of the household burglar alarm system.  The back-up rechargeable power supply of the alarm system provides power to the fire alarm system in case the electricity goes out.  These systems are best maintained by your alarm company.

If you have 120 volt powered smoke detectors, now would be a good time to find out what circuit they are on and label it.  You don't want to try to figure out what breaker it is if you get a false alarm in the middle of the night.  Have someone watch the power LED while you flip breakers off until the LED goes out.

What do you do if your smoke detector system goes off?
First, check to be sure everyone is safe and there is no fire.  Sounds simple but you don't want to assume that it's a false alarm.  If it is a false alarm:

• For battery or single detectors (non-interconnected), you can try to clear the alarm by blowing or vacuuming around the detector in case dust is causing a problem.  Your last resort is to remove/disconnect the power or battery.

• For interconnected smoke detectors, you need to determine which detector is causing the alarm and disconnect it.

  • Different models of smoke detectors have different methods of indicating which detector is initiating the alarm and thereby activating all the others.  The key is the red LED indicator lights.  On some systems, the problem detector will show no red LED while the others all have steady on LEDs or blinking LEDs.  Some systems are the opposite.  What do you do for your situation?  The answer is simple;  "it's odd man out."  Simply look at the detectors and see which one detector has a different LED pattern than the others.  The one that is different is the one that needs to be replaced.

  • If you know what circuit breaker powers the detectors, turn the breaker off.  The battery back-up will still keep the detectors alarming.

  • Then, usually a simple counter clockwise twist of the smoke detector will allow you to detach the unit from its mounting plate.  Then disconnect the plug connector on the back.  Be careful if the circuit breaker is not off since you have 120 power at the plug connector.  At this point, the other detectors should stop alarming and be silent.  If not, you haven't found the problem detector.

  • Finally, remove the 9 volt battery and the problem detector should stop sounding.

• Low voltage detectors are wired as a zone to a Master Control Panel... Call Cherry Hill Alarm Company LLC at (856) 333-6120 for assistance.

Helpful Hints:

• Test your system monthly.  For interconnected units, it helps to have someone else to tell you if the other detectors also are triggered when you press the test button.  Usually, they start 1 or 2 seconds after the first one.  Be sure to press the test button on each unit.  If you've had a lightning strike or surge, be sure to test the detectors to verify their electronics have not been damaged..

• Replace all the batteries every 6 months.  An occasional chirp sound indicates low battery.  Be sure the battery back-up of your smoke detector system is working properly.

   

• If you're getting an occasional chirp and you've changed all the batteries, also check your carbon monoxide detectors to see if their batteries need replacement aswell.

• If your detectors are over 10 years old, it's important to replace all of them.  See the UPDATE at the beginning of this Smoke Detector section. 

Fire Protection Association)
1984  BOCA requires 1 detector per floor and 1 in every bedroom.