Installing hardwired smoke detector vs. battery-operated. This one boils down to how comfortable you are with electrical wiring. Hardwiring a new fire alarm system isn’t a DIY job; ...

This primer on how to install a smoke detector, hard-wired or battery-powered, should help you protect your household against the dangers of fire and smoke.

Many hard-wired smoke detectors’ sealed, non-removable batteries are rated for 10 years. At the 10-year mark, the entire smoke detector must be changed out for a new unit. Less Expensive Per Unit ...

Place the battery in the smoke detector’s battery compartment. All hardwired detectors must have batteries. 11. Attach Detector to Ring. Attach the smoke detector by hand to the mounting trim ...

Hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors tie into your home’s wiring—professional installation is required—and usually have backup batteries. Battery-only detectors are the simplest to ...

Beeping or chirping smoke detectors are beyond annoying. Usually, a chirp every 30 to 60 seconds just indicates a low battery. “If it has a 9-volt battery, it needs to be changed,” says ...

Q: I changed the batteries in my smoke detector, but when I tested it afterward nothing happened. The batteries are new, but the smoke detector is very old. I know that it’s hard-wired into my ...

Battery-powered smoke detectors easily detach from a wall plate so you can access a panel on the back to change the battery. Wired smoke detectors tend to cost more, but not too much.

Q: About 10 years ago, I replaced the original wired smoke alarms in my home with wired dual sensors that use both photoelectric and ionization technology. Because I’ve read that I’m looking ...