Going to replace my smoke alarms with 10 year models .Vast number for sale from $25 upwards. Anyone had experience with these and have any recommendations.? Presume the more you pay the better quality, but they all seem to have a 10 year warranty which is confusing.
johotech,
Feb 23, 12:09pm
Unless you're just after the cheapest from the hardware shop, there a few good quality ones around.
Also, depending on your house and number of people, you should consider interlinked or interconnected alarms. There are wired or wireless models available. With the linked alarms, if one goes off, they all go off. So if there is a fire at the other end of the house, they all go off together.
Brooks are one of the best brands. Cavius also have wireless linked ones.
Some are 5 year battery life with replaceable batteries. Others are (claim) 10 year battery life. Most expire after 10 years and should be replaced.
pato1,
Feb 23, 1:31pm
Thanks. I didn't know about the linked versions.
oh_hunnihunni,
Feb 23, 2:28pm
Had three 'ten years' installed over the last six months by the local firemen. (Lovely guys! ) Two misbehaved and have been replaced by this latest smaller one, which the guys swear they have put in their own homes.
I wouldn't trust any of the buggers. The alarms - not the guys.
trade4us2,
Feb 23, 5:20pm
I have the ordinary cheap smoke alarms in almost every room. I test them regularly with actual smoke, and they all work perfectly. I put $3 alkaline batteries in them with the date on them. They usually last at least 3 years.
johotech,
Feb 23, 5:25pm
Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
But they aren't linked. so.
pato1,
Feb 24, 4:30am
What is the make of the one they recommended.?
kiwisapper,
Feb 24, 5:42am
I have had two of the expnesiive 10 year batteries beasts fail. Both started "chirruping"" , one after a few months and the other after 18 months. Total waste of my money so I buy the "vanilla" ones now, date the batteries and test regularly.
pato1,
Feb 24, 7:29am
Thats a bit enlightening. I thought if I got the expensive 10 year models my days of changing batteries every year or so would be over but it appears not.
flagheaven,
Feb 24, 7:42am
Cavius replace the battery if its faulty within 10 yrs. yip , happened to us
sparkyz,
Feb 24, 2:39pm
Not 10year, but I have used these dual sensor Ionisation & Photoelectric smoke alarms with out any problems.
Quell Smoke Alarm Dual Sensor: L130417 $38 from Mitre10.
mack77,
Feb 27, 2:57pm
How do you know that they all work perfectly unless you test them to see whether they activate in a fire. Use a smoke filled room to do this test. It appears that you're only testing the battery.
euphorique,
Feb 27, 3:48pm
I brought some Cavius alarms from the nice guys at the Ellerslie Flower Show in 2010 with 5 year batteries, still going strong. One started chirping last month about 30 mins after I tested it (fumbling around), so I just re-seated (pull out and put back in) the original battery and it's good again lol. Very clean looking too.
trade4us2,
Feb 27, 4:10pm
I said "I test them regularly with actual smoke" using a burning string. Have you no imagination?
ryanm2,
Feb 28, 1:07am
Cavius had a faulty batch around 2014 from memory. We have replaced some from this period and Cavius / the wholesaler simply give you another one. Also , is everyone aware you are supposed to vacuum the mini alarms every month. If you don’t it can cause it to become faulty.
kiwisapper,
Feb 28, 2:28pm
Vacuum the smoke detector as well as the floor.? SImple answer, NO and is this explained in LARGE PRINT in the accompanying blurb?
Oh and forgive me if in reading your wording, ". We have replaced some from this period . " I get the impression that you, yes you Ryan, have a vested interest in a faulty product.
ryanm2,
Mar 1, 1:10am
Calm down hot pot. There is a date sticker on the bottom of the units to identify batch and battery so need for receipt if you think you have a faulty one , I have zero vested interest in this product, Im a sparky and have had some returned which have been replaced under this warranty.
Hi Kiwisapper, Ryan is correct I have these smoke alarms all though the house and one started to chirp, I rung Cavius, they were great, explained that they had had a faulty batch, said remove them and take them back to who you purchased from, in your case I would presume they would send some to you. I did not need the receipt,although I did have it. I purchased mine from Mitre ten. Went in explained what was wrong, they did not look at them or the receipt and they had boxes of replacement ones at their bench, gave me six new ones, even though I said only one was chirping, told them Cavius had told me to return them all.Very good service and I like the smaller alarms. have had no problems since. Hope this is of some help
hilt_dwane,
Dec 15, 4:02am
You can now get hard wired smoke alarms - got to be installed by an electrician but great for the elderly who might not be too stable up a ladder, changing batteries
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