How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

What is the average life expectancy of a combination smoke and CO carbon monoxide detector?

Saturday, June 6, 2020

How long does a combo smoke/CO alarm last?

The life expectancy of a combo smoke/CO alarm varies from 5 to 10 years, as rated by manufacturer, with newer models having a longer life. Fortunately, smoke/CO alarms manufactured after August 1, 2009, are required to have an “end of life feature” that notifies you by persistent chirping when it is time for replacement. To learn more about the end of life feature, go to our blog post Why does my CO alarm (carbon monoxide) keep chirping after replacing the battery? 

    Here’s a bar graph comparing a combo smoke/CO alarm life expectancy to other home technologies.
    Go to our blog post What is the average lifespan of the parts of a house? for rating of other house components. To understand the basis, potential use, and limitations of lifespan ratings, see How accurate are the average life expectancy ratings of home components? Are they actually useful? 

Here’s links to a collection of some of our other blog posts about “SMOKE AND CO ALARMS":

What is the best place to install carbon monoxide alarms (CO detectors) in a house? 

Can the smoke sensors in a home security/fire alarm system replace the smoke alarms required by the building code?

Does pushing the test button on a smoke alarm test the smoke sensor device inside? 

Should a smoke alarm be installed in the kitchen? 

Where are smoke alarms required to be located? 

Are carbon monoxide alarms required to be installed in homes in Florida?

When should I replace my smoke alarms? 

Does the Nest Protect system meet current building code standards for a combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm system? 

What does the new Florida smoke alarm law require? 

 Is there a Florida law that all older homes must have smoke alarms, regardless of when they were built? 

• Why are carbon monoxide (CO) alarms required by law for homes in Florida? 

• When were smoke alarms first required to be interconnected?

How can I tell the difference between a smoke detector and carbon monoxide (CO) detector? 

When were smoke detectors/alarms first required in Florida?

What is the minimum height for placement of a CO alarm (carbon monoxide detector)? 

Where does the code require CO alarms (carbon monoxide detectors)?  

• Is it illegal to disconnect a smoke alarm? 

• Where should smoke alarms NOT be installed?


• Does a home inspector test smoke alarms?

 Does a home inspector test CO carbon monoxide alarms?

• Why does my CO alarm (carbon monoxide) keep chirping after replacing the battery? 

     Visit our SAFETY page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles. 

NOTE: These life expectancies are based on data provided by InterNACHI, NAHB, FannieMae, and our own professional experience. Because of the numerous variables that can affect a lifespan, they should be used as rough guidelines only, and not relied upon as a warranty or guarantee of future performance.

Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems

Crawl Spaces

Bedrooms

Closets