1,458,019
Ours is hard wired and when we test it it screams like an air raid siren. It is quite old but rewired to code. The entire neighbourhood would be notified if we have a fire lol We also have portable CO2 detectors because we heat with gas and have gas fireplaces too.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Olga Simoncelli
New Fairfield, CT
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
1,208,441
I test them regularly with my cooking. It was hard wired with a battery back up. I had to replace it when the battery chirped. It would not reset and it was covered by a warranty so I got a new one.
I assume the home inspectors check them. I have noticed writeups when they were missing. I need to call them and find out their policy
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Inna Ivchenko
Encino, CA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Peter Mohylsky, Destin...
Miramar Beach, FL
3,141,038
By code, alarms need to be hard-wired to be up to code here. We have smoke and CO2 detector units.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
2,785,306
The combo co2 and detector in my home. Hard and soft wiring work well. Remember that hard wire needs the battery for back-up power loss while battery does not need anything else. Inspectors always check this
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Peter Mohylsky, Destin...
Miramar Beach, FL
1,057,404
I have wired and they are all disabled, Lunapie hated when the would chirp and go try to bury herself in the back yard! And when one would go, they would ALL go. So I have battery operated portable ones and the built-ins are in storage for if I ever sell and need to put them back.
And home inspectors have routinely tested smoke alarms to my knowledge . . .
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
3,350,439
My inspector does not test the smoke/carbon devices. He states if they are present where they are supposed to be or not present where they are supposed to be.
I have the 10-year battery - Kidde.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Peter Mohylsky, Destin...
Miramar Beach, FL
6,423,496
Ours are all battery operated.
Always surprised to see how often we find these missing when tenants leave, dont know why they would need to steal them since their new rental will have one in it already as mandated by state law.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
5,244,251
The units in our building are hard wired with a battery backup. Likely not checked as often as they should be.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
633,820
As of January 2018 Maryland law requires the smoke detector to be replaced every 10 years , hardwired and the battery must be concealed and tamper proof.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
1,625,153
In my location( Los Angeles County) the house will not pass retrofit if they are not wired. So, yes, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide devices are always tested during the retrofit inspection.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
3,590,291
No inspectors don't typically inspect the fire alarm. We have it all wired into our alarm system and it's tested once a year.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
381,487
well it's like this..... we have ALL the kinds in our house. The two that were hardwired (to code when the house was built) and additionally photoelectric in the areas we think there could be a smoldering fire (laundry room, near the furnace) and ionization in all the bedrooms and dining room. We currently don't have them in the kitchen, but it's open to the living area which has one of the hardwired ones.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
1,847,621
Well I can tell you that a hardwired one did not go off when I had a small fire. That's when I doubled up on everything. Always good to have a CO2 detector.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
1,202,422
I have a battery-operated combo Smoke/CO photoelectric with voice in all locations. Home inspectors do test and the Fire Dept is required to test before closing and provide a certificate. I prefer battery operated. The new ones have a 10-year battery life
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
2,402,145
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate I have hard wired and I like them. Odd thing however is that even the hard wired ones need batteries. I like the multi-purpose detectors. The inspectors in our area test them but I do not know to what extent... maybe just holding the test button to see if it beeps.
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Buzz Mackintosh
Frederick, MD
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Doug Dawes
Topsfield, MA
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
16,288
I specifically work with properties in Los Angeles, but I would recommend that you check your state’s regulations. Some states require smoke detectors to be hard wired and several states have also banned ionization smoke alarms.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
1,506,773
I like hardwired with a battery backup (because the fire can occur during a power outage). Don't know the technology, just know where to buy them at home depot.
Inspectors and appraisers test them.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
766,669
Hard wire with battery backup is ideal but battery only is much easier to install.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
430,872
I have hardwired, with a battery backup, I also have both photoelectric and ionization detectors in my house. The photoelectric is in the hall, outside the bedrooms. and the ionization is throughout the house and in the bedrooms. I just swapped batteries on them about two weeks ago too.
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL