Redundancy

Started by Possumpoint, August 21, 2014, 05:24:51 AM

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Possumpoint

Redundancy or in another word overkill. When we built this house 26 years ago, we installed hard wired smoke detectors on both floors. The security company installed their wireless sets interconnected to the security system also. Theirs were battery based. The hard wired ones were set up if one went off, both did. Two nights ago the upstairs unit started intermediately sounding off with the downstairs trying to keep up. Couldn't find a reason for it and the security system ones were quiet. Decided that the hard wired one must have failed and pulled both.

Question is, do these things have a life span and if so, does anyone know the recommended replacement span? I kicked out ADT two and a half years ago so the battery operated units have all been replaced by the new company.

Possumpoint

Never mind, I looked it up and they say replace them every ten years. Guess I'm a little late with that one.

Solar

Quote from: Possumpoint on August 21, 2014, 05:38:36 AM
Never mind, I looked it up and they say replace them every ten years. Guess I'm a little late with that one.
The bigger question, is why weren't they replaced by the new security company?
I'd say someone took shortcuts. My brother owned his own alarm company, also retired with ADT, and I know for a fact that every job came with new equipment, never relied on the old stuff, considering they are putting their reputation on the line and their asses litigiously out there as well.
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Possumpoint

The hard wired smoke detectors had been in service since my wife and I built the house in 1988. ADT installed the first security system in the house 22 years ago after someone tried and failed to kick in my back door while we weren't home. In addition to the existing hard wired smoke detectors, they installed two of their own that were integrated into the security system and would result in a call for the fire Department if not over ruled. These were left in place for 18 years. At that time, the ADT system began to breakdown and they took the position that the system was out of date and manufacture. Despite paying a maintenance fee for the entire time, I was told that there would be no credit towards the installation cost of a new system. Spent several months trying to get that decision over ruled to no gain. Apparently my attempts to discuss the issue with them upset the apple cart and they wouldn't even reply when I agreed to funding a new system.

Went with a new company and had a completely new system installed. Again, new integrated smoke detectors were installed. The upstairs one where we do most of the living also detects over heat and CO. No attempt was ever made to modify the old hard wired detectors and integrate them into the security systems. Didn't think too much about them until the one failed.

Solar

Quote from: Possumpoint on September 01, 2014, 07:03:15 PM
The hard wired smoke detectors had been in service since my wife and I built the house in 1988. ADT installed the first security system in the house 22 years ago after someone tried and failed to kick in my back door while we weren't home. In addition to the existing hard wired smoke detectors, they installed two of their own that were integrated into the security system and would result in a call for the fire Department if not over ruled. These were left in place for 18 years. At that time, the ADT system began to breakdown and they took the position that the system was out of date and manufacture. Despite paying a maintenance fee for the entire time, I was told that there would be no credit towards the installation cost of a new system. Spent several months trying to get that decision over ruled to no gain. Apparently my attempts to discuss the issue with them upset the apple cart and they wouldn't even reply when I agreed to funding a new system.

Went with a new company and had a completely new system installed. Again, new integrated smoke detectors were installed. The upstairs one where we do most of the living also detects over heat and CO. No attempt was ever made to modify the old hard wired detectors and integrate them into the security systems. Didn't think too much about them until the one failed.
I'll ask my brother, the retired ADT specialist, and get his input.
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