Why hardwired beats battery-only
A battery detector with a dead battery is a decoration. Hardwired detectors draw house power with a 10-year sealed battery backup — they work during outages and never need a battery swap. Better yet, they're interconnected: when one alarms, they all alarm. A fire in the basement wakes the third floor. That's the difference that saves lives.
Where code puts them
Every bedroom, every hallway outside sleeping areas, and every level of the home including the basement — that's smoke. CO detectors go outside sleeping areas and on every level with fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage. Most Alexandria homes we inspect are missing half of these. We map the requirements room by room.
The 10-year rule
Detectors age out. Sensors degrade, and after 10 years they're unreliable — even hardwired ones. Check the manufacture date on the back. If it's over 10 years old, or if you don't know, replace them. We install current-code units with sealed 10-year batteries throughout.
What installation involves
We run a dedicated interconnect circuit (or tie into an existing one), mount each unit to code placement — 4 inches from walls on ceilings, proper heights on walls — and test the interconnect so every unit sounds together. Most homes take half a day. Permitted where required.
When did you last replace your detectors? Call (301) 679-9193 for a free safety check. We'll tell you what's missing and what's expired.