Everything You Need to Know About Hardwired Smoke Detectors Perth

Smoke detectors protect your property and save lives. These days, hardwired smoke and fire detectors are required by building codes to be installed in every room of the house. Hardwired smoke detectors are always supplied with constant power by the electrical system of the house and also have battery backup, in case of power outages.

Battery Operated vs. Hardwired Smoke Detectors

Residential homes built before 1992 were not required to have hardwired smoke detectors by code. Homes built after 1992 all were required to have hardwired smoke detectors installed at the time they were constructed. If your home was built before 1992, even though it isn’t required by the law, it is smart to upgrade to hardwired smoke detectors with battery backup to protect you and your family. If your house was built after 1992, is important to test the alarms frequently, replace the batteries as needed and to replace broken or faulty smoke detectors if they have gone bad.

The Right Smoke Detector Position

To be safe, it is best to install hardwired smoke detectors in every room in the house and in every open space in the house, both upstairs and downstairs. This way, no matter where the fire starts, every person in every room will be alerted all at the same time, which could save lives. One or two smoke detectors for an entire house is simply not enough.

Meeting the Building Code Requirements

If you own your home and are not selling it or renting it out, you probably will not have fire marshals or building inspectors stopping in to inspect your home’s smoke detectors. But if you are selling your home or renting it out, you are required to bring it up to current codes, which means it will have to outfitted with the proper number of hardwired smoke alarms in every room and open area, both up and downstairs. If you own and rent out a house or duplex, part of your responsibility as the owner is to install, and maintain in good working order hardwired smoke detectors and their batteries that meet the full requirements of current building code.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Hardwired smoke detectors are great and should be installed in every home, but they are not enough on their own. Homes also have appliances and other electrical devices as well as gas heaters, stoves, ovens and even wood-burning heaters and fireplaces. All of these can create a fire that releases carbon monoxide that may not set off a smoke alarm. Since 2011, carbon monoxide detectors are required to be used in rooms that have any of these items present. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless silent killer and having a proper carbon monoxide detector can save your and your family’s life.

Conclusion:

It is highly recommended that you have hardwired smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors installed by a professional electrician if you don’t have them already. Consult a good electrical service company, like Andrew’s Home Services, when it comes time to install, repair or upgrade your smoke or fire alarms. Andrew’s Home Services is very experienced with selecting the best alarms and detectors for your home and installing them so that you and your family can have peace of mind.