I hate the alarm system. Every time it’s gone off, it’s been a false alarm. Then the guy comes over, tells me that certain devices have come to the end of their life, and have to be replaced. This probably happens every other year or so, and 2-4 devices are replaced both times. And it always takes a long time, and I get a huge bill. It’s a small, local company (monitoring is done by a large company).
Yesterday, there were false alarms from two CO detectors. Today, the guy and his helper have been here for 1 hour 20 minutes so far (almost 3 hours of labor) to install two detectors. Both are being hardwired into the system, but they were hardwired before, so there shouldn’t be much in the way of work there.
Would depend upon brand but I replaced 6 smoke detectors and three CO detectors in an hour at my house last month… all hardwired but I only had to rewire two of them where the coupler didn’t mate up…
That’s what I thought. When he came to tell me they were finished (after 1.5 hours), I asked why it took so long. His response: Do you remember a couple of years ago when we had to install one because the building inspector required it? (When we had a room renovated.) And we had to wire it {something about strange situation,had to wire it in a non-standard way} So this time, my helper wired it wrong the first time because he didn’t realize that the usual colors were reversed." Me: "So it took longer this time because you wired it wrong last time? Him: No, we had to wire it that way. And we blew dust off the smoke detectors.
This is the last time. I’ll call the electrician next time. I love the electrician (and plumber and contractor), can’t stand this guy.
Also, false alarms. Isn’t that somewhat standard if you’re cooking nearby. There’s a button you push on the unit to turn it off. Ours are hard wired too and we haven’t gotten them replaced.
Can’t you just climb up a ladder and change them yourself? Shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes for the first one, 5 minutes for the rest once you see how it’s done. Also as others have said it could just be from cooking. Be sure to run your exhaust fan and/open a window when cooking. Or it could just be the batteries need replacing. Even hard wired units have a battery backup. Units should be lasting much much longer than a year or two.
^^^ Yes, exactly. Every year our hard-wired alarms will do the tweep sound a bit, then actually go off if the battery is not replaced. It’s a safeguard to assure batteries are changed.
It sounds like your crew are replacing the units rather than replacing batteries, which you can do.
Our regular smoke alarms are hardwired and have been up for 15 years. I know they work since they went off when the oven was smoking a few days ago. (Someday I’ll either need to clean the oven, or buy a new one… ) We are planning to replace a few of them with combo CO2/smoke alarms. I watched the youtube video, and it looks like it is very easy to do, so that’s my next big project.
We have had ADT for many years. We recently decided to switch from our landline based system to a cell system and add a CO detector. We were quoted $100 total for both and expected the visit to only last an hour. While he was there, he also replaced both panels since ours were very old and not compatible with the new system and replaced several window alarms since ours were removed when we replaced windows. He ended up being at our house for about 5 hours since he replaced more than expected and thoroughly tested every single component. Total cost was the $100 we were originally quoted.
I’m not about to mess with replacing a unit that’s hardwired. Got the willies when DH replaced a light switch. OP, we can’t really tell you what’s customary where you live. Maybe a neighbor can give a good rec for a new electrician. But I do know some online quotes for trade-related equipment turn out to be unit prices for large quantity orders.
you should have carbon monoxide detectors(100% needed) if you live in a house that has cars in a garage or a gas heating system or gas for cooking.
but you can buy multiple detectors that simply need to be plugged in and spread them around your house. they are loud when they go off and they work. if the ones from your alarm company are" failing" so often… either they are ripping you off or something is wrong with the system like the amount of voltage going to your alarm or something like that.
carbon monoxide detectors are cheap. if you buy them just like smoke alarms run the test on them every couple months.
I had hardwired smoke alarms and I prefer the individual battery operated ones. The CO detectors plug into an outlet and have 9 volt battery backup. When I travel and stay in a hotel I keep one in my suitcase. We have had one CO alarm when our furnace broke. Something had been installed incorrectly when new, so when the heat exchanger cracked, CO was vented into the house. The furnace appeared to be operating ok, so there was no indication that CO was getting into the house, other than the screaming alarm of course. I wouldn’t want to be without a CO detector for one minute.
) We are planning to replace a few of them with combo CO2/smoke alarms. I watched the youtube video, and it looks like it is very easy to do, so that’s my next big project.