Do you have a smoke detector that beeps at you all the time, even with new batteries? It may be time to replace it. Most manufacturers recommend replacing smoke detectors if they’re 10 years or older because the sensors become unreliable. In this article, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step process to help you replace your smoke detector.
Turn Off the Power
First, fully disconnect the power to the outlet or the switch you are working on at the breaker panel. Once you’ve flipped the breaker, return to the outlet or switch and use an electrical tester to make sure all of the wires are dead. If there’s still power to that wiring, your tester should light up or make a noise. Start this process over until your tester no longer lights up indicating there is still power.
Remove the Smoke Detector
The most common smoke detectors use a twist-and-lock method to hold the smoke detector on the mounting bracket. So, grab the detector firmly and twist it counterclockwise. You should feel it release from the bracket and it will be hanging by the wiring harness.
Connect the Wiring Harness from the Smoke Detector
Depending on the style of your smoke detector, the wiring harness may slip on and off, while others may have a tab you need to press to get it to release.
Remove the Old Baseplate
Next, you’ll remove the old baseplate. Sometimes these can be painted over when a homeowner paints walls or ceilings. If that’s the case, use a razor knife and score around the paint, this will help prevent any peeling.
The base plate is usually held on by 2 screws. Sometimes you can just loosen the screws and just twist the plate off, other times you will need to remove the screws all the way to get it off.
Connect Wiring Harness to the Wires
The new smoke detector wiring harness should have the same colors as the old smoke detector. You should have a black wire (which is the hot wire), a white (which is your neutral), and a red one (this is a communication wire for interconnected smoke detectors). It’s important to connect all of them correctly so they go off together and protect you no matter where you are and where the fire is.
Attach the New Base Plates
The next step is to install the new base plate. Your new base plate may have different hole configurations. But you might be able to slip it over the screws, turn it until it locks in place, and then tighten the screws down.
Install the New Smoke Detector
Next, you’re going to snap the wiring harness into the matching port at the back of the smoke detector. Direct the dangling wires back into the opening so they don’t get pinched between the detector and the base plate. Then twist the smoke detector into place.
Remove the Battery Spacer
Some smoke detectors have a plastic strip and others have a big red arrow made of cardboard that acts as a spacer. This keeps the battery from activating the smoke detector during the shipping and storage process. Go ahead and remove those now.
Turn the Power Back On and Test
The last step is to turn the power back on and test the smoke detectors by pressing the test/hush button for the number of seconds designated on the back of the detector. Then all interconnected, battery-backed-up alarms should respond.
So, that’s how you replace a smoke detector. As you can see, with a little bit of information and instruction this is something you can do yourself. But, if you ever feel like you have gotten in over your head, call an electrician you trust for some help.
