How Long Do Smoke Detectors Last?
Learn how to properly maintain a smoke detector and keep your family safer
Highlights
Smoke detectors typically last 10 years.
Replace smoke detectors that are over 10 years old, are chirping constantly, or fail a test.
Smoke detectors can cost as little as $10 per detector.
“How long do smoke detectors last?” is an important question for every household to be able to answer. It’s vital for you to test and replace faulty smoke detectors regularly for the health and safety of you and your family. In addition, it’s a requirement in most states for residences and rental properties to have working smoke detectors. Find out how long the typical smoke detector lasts and how you can test its functionality so you can have peace of mind.
Smoke Detector Life Expectancy
Most smoke detectors last 10 years, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Over time, dust gathers inside smoke detectors, wearing down the sensors. Older smoke detectors are less sensitive, which means when there is a fire, you may not have enough time to escape by the time the alarm goes off. They are also more susceptible to electrical corrosion.
Even if your smoke detector hasn’t reached the 10-year mark, you should replace it if it chirps after you’ve replaced the batteries (or if the alarm fails to sound when you perform the recommended monthly test). Experts recommend that you replace any and all connected smoke alarms at one time, even if some are still working.
Smoke Detectors With CO Detectors
Smoke detectors with CO detectors last about five to seven years but offer added safety by detecting both smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) gas. If a smoke detector also contains a CO detector, it will likely need replacement sooner. CO detectors have a limited lifespan due to the sensitivity of their sensors. It’s crucial to follow the manufacturer's guidelines and regularly test and replace these dual detectors to ensure their proper functioning and protect against potential hazards.
Hardwired vs. Battery-Operated Smoke Detectors
Battery-operated detectors rely solely on batteries, lasting five to 10 years before replacement. Hardwired detectors are connected to the electrical system and typically have a backup battery that lasts around one to two years.
Deciding where to put smoke detectors depends on the type of smoke detector you choose. While hardwired detectors offer continuous power, battery-operated ones are easier to install and suitable for areas without access to electricity, so it’s super important to replace their batteries in a timely manner for optimal performance.
How to Maintain Your Smoke Alarms to Keep Them in Working Order
How long do smoke detector batteries last? The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) encourages people to replace smoke detector batteries (or the backup batteries if you have hardwired smoke alarms) at least once a year and test the alarms monthly to ensure none need to be replaced.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Smoke Detector
Here’s how you know if a smoke detector is going bad and when you should take action.
You Hear a Chirping Sound
A smoke alarm that needs attention will chirp for a long time, sometimes indefinitely, if it is hardwired to your electricity. But you’ll want to make sure you take action ASAP once you hear that sound because it means the batteries in the smoke detector are going bad and need to be replaced.
It’s More Than 10 Years Old
How long do hardwired smoke detectors last? As mentioned above, age can be a big indicator that it’s time to replace a smoke detector. It’s pretty simple to check the age of your smoke detector: Just climb up on a ladder and take a look at the back of the alarm up close. There will be a manufactured date that tells you when the alarm was made. If that date was 10 years ago or more, it’s definitely time to replace it.
Do this same check on all the smoke alarms in your house, as many homes have had all their smoke detectors installed around the same time. Note: If your smoke detector is on a high ceiling, you may need to call someone for the job.
It Fails a Test
To test your smoke alarms, follow these simple steps:
Alert everyone in your home about the test.
Press and hold the "test" button on the alarm until you hear a loud siren sound.
Observe if the alarm produces a strong, clear noise.
Repeat these steps with all smoke alarms in your house, including those with CO detectors.
If you don't hear the sound, replace the batteries or the entire alarm unit immediately.
Regularly repeat this test at least once a month to ensure your alarms are functioning correctly.
Cost to Replace Hardwired Smoke Alarms
You can replace hardwired detectors yourself if you can reach them and if you have skills sufficient enough to replace a light fixture. (Be sure to turn off the electricity at the breaker box first, though.) Otherwise, you can hire an electrical company near you or an alarm service company to do the job.
The cost to replace a smoke detector can vary widely, depending on where you live, the type and number of units you need to replace, where they are, and the condition of the wires. A smoke alarm itself can cost as little as $10 per unit for a basic model or as much as $50 per unit for a wireless or hardwired smoke alarm with a built-in carbon monoxide detector.
A local home security company can do the installation for you if you prefer this peace of mind. These service providers typically charge $35 to $40 per detector plus a $50 service charge.
8 Important Fire Safety Tips to Protect Your Family and Home
These fire safety tips from the NFPA will help you and your family make a plan and stay safe.
Install smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home, including the basement. (Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.)
Interconnected smoke alarms—whether hardwired or wireless—are best because when one is activated, they all sound.
Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Simply press the test button to be sure the alarm works.
There are two types of smoke detectors. Ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn of flaming fires, whereas photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn of smoldering fires. It’s best to use some of both types throughout your home.
A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Install wall-mounted alarms no more than 12 inches from the ceiling to the top of the alarm.
Don't install smoke alarms near windows, doors, or ducts where drafts might interfere with their operation. To reduce false alarms, keep alarms at least 10 feet from a stove.
Make sure everyone in your home knows how to respond if they hear a smoke alarm.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning smoke detectors.
Leah Lopez Cardenas contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should change the batteries in your smoke detectors at least once per year. Mark it on your calendar or make it a holiday or birthday tradition so that you always remember it. You should also be testing your smoke alarms monthly to ensure they’re working properly and can alert you in case of an emergency.
There are a few reasons why your smoke detector may be beeping. For one, make sure the batteries you use are fresh. If they are, look at the manufacturing date on the smoke alarm. If it’s more than 10 years old, this could be the detector's way of telling you that you need to replace it. You may have also tripped one of the test buttons or another setting, so consult your manual for more info.