Return to the Home Repair Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
what are options for buying new smoke/CO detectors
| | |
Posted by jaansu (My Page) on Wed, Feb 27, 08 at 7:19
| I want to update my 15 yr old hard wired smoke detectors. I currently only have three, one on each level, and I would like to extend them to each bedroom, the garage and workshop. My impression is that it is not hard to interconnect, say, 9 so that they will all sound in case one kicks in. My research suggests to get the monitors that also detect CO and have a kill button. But how about heat? Is that a good idea?
May I ask if anyone who has looked into doing the same has any useful advice for me? Whose brand has worked well, or not well, and what other features I might want to buy? Are these best bought online? Finally, would a detector in the garage start giving me false alarms due to the carbon mono that normally is produced by a car? For instance, can I just install a smoke or heat sensor in the garage. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: what are options for buying new smoke/CO detectors
| | |
| I bought mine at Menards about $80 for 8 count contactors pack. They used to go off in the kitchen till we removed a bulkhead and the one in the basement went off when the new furnace was fired up. Nobody really knows if they work good or not till your house burns up. Testing is useful but the real thing is best. It's not hard to interconnect, just a bear to run the wire in the first place. I don't buy online, I like to see what I'm getting. |
RE: what are options for buying new smoke/CO detectors
| | |
| I recentky installed 11 Kidde PI2000 smoke detectors. These detectors have two sensors - a photo detector and an ion detector. I recommend that you get both - there was a post about this not too long ago on the building forum about people who's smoke detectors did not go off and were killed. We too know some people who had a fire in their house and the detectors did not go off either - luckily they escaped. I like the Kidde detectors because they are very slim (I do not have the battery backup option - my smokes are backed up by a power genarator) and they were also highly rated by consummer reviews. I recently got to see how well these detectors work when I first fired up my brand new direct vent wood burning fireplace. For the very first fire, they tell you to do it when the winodws are opened because they use a special paint that burns off. I had the windows opened but apparently not enough. Our smoke detectors sensed this stuff - probably the ion sensor. After that first burn, the detectors have not gone off when I have lit other fires so I am pretty sure they were detecting the fumes from the paint burn off. I was impressed. I am not sure about putting CO sensors in the garage - but if you have rooms above the garage I would definetly put one in there. I would also recommend putting one around your dryer if you use gas. Got another tip from the appliance guy who told us to make sure we put in CO sensors in our laundry room. I have used the plug in modules that you can buy at HD - but now I have intregrated CO sensors into my security system. The new units are GE 250's i believe. Spend a few extra dollars and get the dual sensing smoke detectors - I paid 25 bucks each. In the grand scheme of things, it's peanuts to pay for the extra protection you get. |
RE: what are options for buying new smoke/CO detectors
| | |
| Thanks Sniffdog. The hint about a laundry room sensor is an excellent one that I had not thought about. And since I will be redoing that room entirely, hardwiring in a sensor will be easy. Do the Kidde detectors work together? Any chance there is an online version of the CR report? That is the exact sort of thing I want to review before buying. |
RE: what are options for buying new smoke/CO detectors
| | |
| As a firefighter I am going to refer you to your local FD and find out what the fire code reccomends. I have the "talking detectors" smoke/co in my house manufactured by Kidde, those are some of the best wired and battery detectors that you can buy. Hardwired detectors have a "pig tail" plug that plugs into the detector. Twist the detector off of the mounting ring and unplug. Optionally, there is a battery back-up for detection in the event of power failure. You should change out detectors every 10-years for new ones. Home Depot, Lowes, ACE all sell battery and hard wired detectors. If you change the detectors, you should change them all so that they are the same kind. In addition, you should have a CO detector within 10 feet of all bedrooms in the common hallway, and in every room that has a source of combustion. i.e. fireplace, gas cook stove and furnace. If you are unsure, check with the local Fire Dept for local code regulations |
|
|
|
|
