I am looking for recommendations on good battery operated smoke detectors, ones that have a chance to survive renter abuse/neglect for at least two or three years.

For years I had used the inexpensive ones with 9 volt batteries. The renters never replaced batteries or else family members would take out good batteries to power toys and such. I was continually replacing batteries.

Then I tried ones that had a little pin that kept a 9 volt battery from being removed. Those smoke detectors then would be thrown away by renters.

Next I tried more expensive ones that had lithium batteries and were supposed to last 10 years. Those all stopped working after a couple of weeks - even in houses between renters when no one touched them.

I just made the rounds of my occupied homes and found very few smoke detectors that worked - missing batteries, worn out batteries, missing smoke detectors. One of the few that worked anywhere was one in a basement that had been hard wired, something that almost isn't feasible in most of my homes with thick plaster walls.

Typically I have at least 6 smoke detectors in each home.

I also have a fire extinguisher which often disappears.

Then there also has been my not-very-successful attempt to have a carbon monoxide detector in each home.

I am looking for ideas beyond lecturing my renters about the importance of functioning smoke detectors for their safety and "fining" them when I have to regularly replace batteries and detectors.

You should check online with your local Fire Marshal or State agency that will give you the list of "approved" smoke detectors. I use the "Trouble Free" 10 year Li-ion built in sealed battery units. In areas that are very hot, like over 100 degree's, I would not place the smoke detectors on the ceiling where the heat is the greatest. Instead I would mount them on the walls between 9 to 12" below the ceilings.

Robert - Thanks for the idea about using different manufacturer's smoke detectors in different rooms.

Unfortunately my experience with the 10 year Li-ion built in sealed battery units was terrible.

My city is handing out free smoke detectors to persons who ask for them as part of a month promotion for fire safety. I think they will also install them. I would think that someone who asked for smoke detectors would take care of them.

These tenants are not respecting your property, your building, or even their own lives.

Increase fines to the maximum for tampering or removal of detectors or batteries and follow through. Let them know you will be strictly enforcing this now AND DO IT!

In stalled the First Alert ones with a 10 year battery in my new construction.

I got some non-hardwired ones, although I don't remember the brand, from Sam's Club for under $15 each, but they are out of stock at the moment.

I use the el cheapo 9 volt smoke detectors. I put in new batteries at turnover, and then I do a battery replacement every year on the anniversary.

If I find any detectors missing, I charge the T $35 for the replacement, and give a lecture. I KNOW that the smoke detector should not have been chirping, because I know when I put in a fresh battery. If I find any batteries missing, I give a lecture but I don't charge anything -- I was going to replace the battery anyway, so there is no charge.

I print out adhesive labels with the date before I make the smoke detector battery replacement trip, and I put the labels on the new batteries.

I also have extra replacement smoke detectors with me, in case there are missing detectors or broken detectors.

Carolyn,

We use the cheap 2 for $9.95 SDs from Lowes, EXCEPT we take out the cheap battery and put in a fresh Everready long life battery, hoping this will last longer and reduce the need for removal (smashing) by residents.

I consider them a disposable item like light bulbs. My lease charges $20 each to replace.

MY state requires the res sign a statement acknowledging the working detectors at move in and places the burden of maintaining the SDs on the res after move in. Does your state or local govt have such a law?

I’m big on SDs because we had a person die in a fire and I KNOW they save lives. But there comes a point where, like motorcycle helmut laws, I cannot protect them from themselves.

We check the homes twice a year and have them sign a new SD form each year to CYA.

I had a tenant who constantly removed batteries from smoke detectors. They had little kids and I threatened to call Child Protective Services. After I non renewed the lease for extreme verbal abuse, I found a glass drug pipe. I have read that drug fumes cause smoke alarms to trip.

I had a tenant who constantly removed batteries from smoke detectors. They had little kids and I threatened to call Child Protective Services. After I non renewed the lease for extreme verbal abuse, I found a glass drug pipe. I have read that drug fumes cause smoke alarms to trip.

I had a fire in an 8 unit apartment building that destroyed 2 units. The tenant was gone and left a dozen candles burning on a dresser, some without a candle holder. She told her daughter to watch the candles. The daughter was only 12 years old and she watched the unit burn down.

When the Fire Department showed up, the kids said they didn't hear the smoke alarm, the owner is a slumlord who doesn't care about the tenants safety and has non working smoke detectors.

At the fire a insurance agent for my carrier heard the conversations about my lack of care on smoke alarms and told me that my claim was going to be denied.

I then spoke to the Fire Captain, Fire Martial and the Insurance Investigator and I explained that every six months I check the Hard Wire Smoke Alarms and Replace their 9 volt battery back up. That on each battery I put the date of replacement and my initials.

The fire captain that I have six two bedroom units still standing and told his men to check all of the smoke detectors for connection, battery back up and if they work. They found in each of the 6 units 3 smoke detectors that all had current 9 volt back up batteries with my initials and the install date. They also tested the smoke alarms and found them all to work.

So the firemen went through the rubble shoveled outside after the fire and located those smoke detectors. They had no battery and weren't plugged in, the harness was disconnected. Then they found a kids toy car with my 9-volt battery used to operate the car and remote. The tenants disconnected the smoke detectors so they could have free batteries for their kids.

My problem with the supposedly 10 year smoke detectors with a Lithium battery was exactly the same with every one I put in shortly after purchase - in a number of different rentals, both occupied and vacant. Within a couple of weeks they all were continually beeping and nothing I tried made that stop. Then some started to make the alarm that goes with detecting fire/smoke.

The temperature was reasonable, not excessively hot or cold. Most were mounted on a wall a few inches down from the ceiling. A few were mounted on the ceiling a few inches way from a wall. It didn't make a difference where any were - they all continually beeped or went to full alarm.

As I understand there are two types of detectors - photo cell and ionization.

The ionization detects the change in air quality (ions, ozone) much like how the air smells fresher after lightning storm. The lightning's electricity changes the oxygen content in the air. Same with ozone machines.

The photo cell detectors watch the tiny space between 2 sensors, watching for smoke to pass between them and block the view (think those safety lights at the bottom of your overhead garage door.)

Cigarette smoke, cooking oils and bacon grease in the air, weed, incense, candle wax in the air, even dust over time...each or an accumulation of several things block those photo sensors triggering an alarm.

People who smoke inside will often remove the SD so they can smoke.

I have also been told by a trained fire expert that when the Sec8 inspector uses that canned smoke spray to test the detector, it will be less sensitive after the smoke test because it will have a slight coating from the canned smoke.

Our first duty is to protect our business by having SDs and documents and photos to prove we acted within the law. THIS will protect residents.

Our second duty is to protect residents from themselves.

BRAD

Carolyn,

I suggest that your 10 year SDs are sounding because the res is creating one of the above conditions in your property. Double check location.

Best location is 12" from the joint where the wall and ceiling meet to the CENTER of the SD, not near a door or window so the fresh air does not minimize the smoke hitting the SD, and 15 or more feet away from the entrance to the kitchen.

Bathroom steam can block the sensors and trigger an alarm.

BRAD

NH has very few laws but we do have a great Smoke Detector ( any detector) tamper LAW.

I make each tenant sign a separate Smoke detector form acknowledging the location , that they are operable and notice them on NH penalty if tampered.

Then I video the green light during walkthrough along with Fire extinguisher placement

They are hard wired , battery backup combo CO2

A new law in Illinois that goes into effect in 2023 makes it mandatory for all dwellings to contain a smoke detector with a 10-year battery life