Re: BRK smoke alarm

[Frank Olson <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert L Bass wrote:
> <schmekelfutz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> My house has 9 yr. old BRK wired-in smoke detectors. They are of the
>> ionization kind.  They have given false alarm problems.   I'd like to
>> replace them with newer BRK models but have been reading that this
>> brand is very poor when it comes to false alarms and random chirps.  I
>> called them and they said that they recommend the photoelectric type
>> as less prone to false alarms and random chirps.
>>
>> Is there more reliable brands out there?  Even if I have to spend
>> more, it's preferable to chasing chirps in the middle of the night!
>> All recommendations appreciated.
>
> I assume that by "wired-in" you're referring to 110 Volt smokes with a
> 9-Volt battery backup.  If so, the chirps you're getting are probably
> low battery warnings.  The detector will issue a brief (maybe
> 1/4-second) beep roughly every 40 to 60 seconds when the battery has
> about 90 days' life left in it.  The time varies but that's about
> median.  Find which ones are chirping and swap the batteries.  The
> chirps should stop.

If the smokes the OP is using have a small radio-active symbol on the
back he *must* replace them with photo-electrics.  Ionization detectors
in a residential setting are false alarm "magnets" and will not function
properly in the kind of fire he's liable to "encounter".


>
> BRK are about the same quality as most of the other off-the-shelf units
> out there.

You're kidding right??  Kidde and BRK are probably the worst detectors
out there.


> I sell some 110-Volt smokes online but you can probably get
> them locally for about the same price and save the shipping.

Which begs the question...  Why shop some no-name online store with the
worst BBB record of any when you can call a friendly "local" Dealer??
Not only would you get the part, you wouldn't have to pay for shipping
or risk it being considered "non-returnable".


> System
> Sensor makes pretty much the best smoke detectors IMO but I've only used
> their low voltage, system type detectors.

Then you obviously haven't used any of the GE smokes (which are hands
down better quality than System Sensor.