Faulty long life smoke alarm

[mrsaneperson]

We (in my other occupation) have had to replace many of the 10 year alarms due to faulty manufacture. I'm surprised this topic hasn't been broached before. Lately, Triple Kay is using Cavius alarms. Of the 50 or so we've installed we have had just one return.

Something like a 2% failure rate so far.

They look twice the depth of the standard ones. Not good for low ceilings.

[martinj]

Hi do photoelectric alarms go off from humidity

[Wayne]

Hi do photoelectric alarms go off from humidity

Do you mean steam or just high humidity?
I haven't found that they go off in Hamilton where we have fairly high humidity but not steam.

[SimonW]

Interesting reading.....

The property manager who looks after 3 of my properties contacted me in mid 2016 to advise that he was arranging for Warrior 10 year battery smoke alarms to be professionally installed in all the properties he manages (with the owner's agreement of course). I duly paid $75 per unit which included the installation. I didn't think that was too bad for a long term set and forget solution.

However since then, the smoke alarm at all 3 of these properties has failed. 1 of them started emitting the 'low battery' warning even though they are nowhere near their supposed 10 year lifespan, another just stopped working for no apparent reason. The third was mentioned on an inspection report as needing the battery to be changed - even though it is a sealed unit. In that case the departing tenant had swapped my long life alarm for a budget one and took my one with them.
The latest failure (which was already a warranty replacement) was just last week. What annoys me is that I only find out about it when it is mentioned on the inspection report and in those reports they suggest that I do something about it.

Every time it has happened I have been on the phone to the manager reminding him that he chose the products and he sourced them via the installer - I just paid the bill. I advised him to contact the supplier/installer to exercise his rights under the product warranty to have the units replaced/reinstalled at no charge. I haven't heard anything since so I must follow up to check that the alarms have actually been replaced.

Clearly the Warrior 10 year long life alarm is a dog. I think I was actually better off with the $10 el cheapo alarms from the Warehouse or Bunnings that I had been using prior to this.

[Wayne]

Clearly the Warrior 10 year long life alarm is a dog. I think I was actually better off with the $10 el cheapo alarms from the Warehouse or Bunnings that I had been using prior to this.

I use the MT588H-LB which is the long life version of the MT588H which Consumer gave a good rating to.
The latest from Mitre10 seems to be the Warrior version (they seem to come under a few brands, Jobmate is M10 only brand - same item).
I have installed 20+ of these and 4 years later they are going good.
I have paid between $14 and $20 for them (currently $19.98 for the Jobmate or $49 for 2 Warrior) and Consumer lists them as $29.15 so your $75 installed is steep I think.

Most have a sealed battery but I found one didn't - guess what, the tenant stole the battery!

[Keys]

Most have a sealed battery but I found one didn't - guess what, the tenant stole the battery!

What did you do about that then?

[Sharon]

Noticed some PMs do use these specialist smoke alarm install companies. Our PM does it himself and will charge nothing for time and travel if merges in with other work or visits.
Otherwise it costs same, $75 dollars, this would include supply of 2 of the 10 yr smoke alarms, ($26 each) and includes his time, travel & install. Seems very reasonable given not much change from 1 hour if including travel, install plus hauling ladder up and down stairs etc.

[Wayne]

What did you do about that then?

The tenant had left and I am doing the place up to sell so left it.

[Wayne]

Noticed some PMs do use these specialist smoke alarm install companies. Our PM does it himself and will charge nothing for time and travel if merges in with other work or visits.
Otherwise it costs same, $75 dollars, this would include supply of 2 of the 10 yr smoke alarms, ($26 each) and includes his time, travel & install. Seems very reasonable given not much change from 1 hour if including travel, install plus hauling ladder up and down stairs etc.

for 2 not so bad as you say.

[Sharon]

yes seems fair and very reasonable. All the same get some who question if a PM should be doing this type thing. Regrettably some are even accused as being money grabbers despite charging less than specialist firm.

$75 to replace a single smoke alarm? Suppose if you break it down thats also reasonable for house only needing 1. Supply of compliant alarm, travel time,vehicle costs, ladders in/out, actual install, supply label sticker, date, test, photo, upload, email PM, ACC premiums, invoicing admin - just for starters.
Then all the other add on costs for running any small business.
Wonder if these companies do ok.

[PTWhatAGreatForum]

I find smoke alarms of various brands to be pretty shonky. They seem to last a few years and then go on the fritz.

I have also experienced this. Even with First Alert, who are supposed to be up in their game. They work allright for a while, then start going off at random times and it's downhill from there...

[Learning]

They need to be cleaned/dusted/vacuumed/blowen out every so often to keep the sensors clean and reduce the risk of false alarms.

[SimonW]

So at 4am this morning I had the exact same problem as Glenn the original poster of this topic. My long life smoke alarm in the lounge started going off for no reason. I got up and after checking for causes (I couldn't find any) I pressed the hush button and went back to bed.

I was just falling back asleep when it went off again, and again, and again. The first strike of my hammer did nothing. The second strike blew the thing apart and silence was restored. There's something surreal about attacking household items with a hammer in your underwear at 4 o'clock in the morning......

After smashing it up, I realised that it was a Warrior brand alarm - the same model of alarm that I referred to in my previous posts - so now that's 4 out of 4 Warrior long life alarms that I have bought (either directly or through my PM) which have failed inside of 18 months.

I dug out the twinpack box it came in this morning - the box says it was manufactured exclusively for Mitre10, so I will be off there this afternoon with 1 x unused alarm and the remnants of the other to claim a refund.

[mrsaneperson]

Its crazy isn't it our society has become obsessed with smoke alarms while 1 in 5 of us are apparently walking around with either a mental illness or drug problem

[Sportsvee]

Its crazy isn't it our society has become obsessed with smoke alarms while 1 in 5 of us are apparently walking around with either a mental illness or drug problem

Does that mean that 20% of the above posters could be affected by mental health or drugs? 😉