Smoke & CO Detectors

The Ontario Fire Code requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas. Homes built after 1986 must have hardwired units, and renovations typically trigger the hardwired interconnected requirement. CO alarms are required near bedrooms if you have fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage.

Every 10 years — the sensors degrade even if the unit still chirps on test. The manufacture date is printed on the back of the unit. We replace expired detectors with combination smoke/CO units that have battery backup, typically $90–$150 per unit installed.

Persistent chirping usually means the unit has reached end-of-life, has a wiring fault on the interconnect circuit, or dust in the sensor. If a new battery doesn't fix it within a minute, the detector should be replaced — we can swap all units in a visit.