Which smoke alarms we trust, and why.
We install alarms in homes every week, so people often ask us which ones we trust. Rather than chase a brand leaderboard that changes every year and with every model, here is what we actually look for, because the qualities matter more than the logo on the box.
What we look for
A current UL listing (UL 217 8th edition), the safety certification that means the alarm was independently tested.
A sealed 10-year battery – while the 10-year battery doesn’t make it work any better, it does mean that you don’t have to replace the batteries all the time. That’s why these are our most popular alarms, and by a large factor.
The right sensor for the location – some alarms are sensitive to cooking smoke and steam from your shower, so it’s important to put the right type of alarm in these locations.
A solid manufacturer warranty – most major manufacturers have a 10-year warranty, but so do a lot of the cheap, unreliable alarms. We make sure our manufacturers also stand behind their warranties.
Tested and proven reliable our customer’s home. Let’s face it, we don’t want to have to come back to replace a faulty alarm, so we only install alarms with a proven track record.
An alarm that hits all four will protect a home far better than the cheaper options on the shelf.
What we install and stand behind
We install well-established alarms from manufacturers with a long track record and easy-to-find replacement parts, and we match the model to the spot in your home. We are happy to tell you exactly what we would put in our own houses when we are standing in yours.
Red flags of a cheap alarm
Be wary of no clear UL listing or if the “8th edition” is missing, a vague or missing manufacture date, no real warranty, and an off-brand name you cannot find support for later. A few dollars saved up front is not worth an alarm you cannot trust on the one night it needs to work.
Want alarms you can trust, installed right? We bring and install what we stand behind, with the price in writing first.
