Smoke Detector

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Licensed electricians across Adelaide, Perth & Brisbane

G★★★★★
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews

Working, compliant smoke alarms are the single most important safety device in your home, and the rules now require interconnected photoelectric alarms in most states. Our licensed electricians supply, install and upgrade smoke alarms so your home is safe and compliant.

We service Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, often the same day, with upfront fixed pricing.

Why choose Same Day Trades for smoke alarms?

We are local, licensed electricians who do this work every day, so we get it right the first time, with no mess and no shortcuts on safety.

Fully licensed electricians, all work to AS/NZS 3000
Upfront fixed pricing before we start
Safety switches and a compliance certificate where required
Same-day help for urgent faults
Servicing Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, phones answered around the clock

You get safe, tidy, guaranteed workmanship every time, and honest advice on what your home actually needs.

Why working smoke alarms save lives

Smoke alarms are the single most important safety device in your home, giving you the early warning you need to escape a fire, often while you are asleep and would otherwise not wake until it was too late. A fire can fill a home with deadly smoke in minutes, and most fatal house fires happen at night. A working smoke alarm dramatically increases your chances of getting out safely, which is why they are a legal requirement in Australian homes. The key word is working: an alarm with a flat battery, that is too old, or that is poorly placed, cannot protect you. We install, test and replace alarms to keep your home properly protected.

Types of smoke alarms

There are two main technologies, and they are not equal:

Photoelectric alarms detect smoke from smouldering, slow-burning fires, which are the most common and dangerous type in homes, especially at night. These are now the recommended and, in many areas, required type.
Ionisation alarms respond faster to flaming fires but are slower on smouldering fires and more prone to nuisance alarms from cooking.

Alarms are also either battery-powered or hardwired to your mains power with a battery backup. We recommend and install interconnected photoelectric hardwired alarms, which give the best, most reliable protection.

Photoelectric vs ionisation alarms

The difference between these two technologies matters for your safety. Research and fire authorities favour photoelectric alarms because they detect the thick smoke of a smouldering fire much faster, and smouldering fires, such as a cigarette in a couch or faulty wiring in a wall, are the ones most likely to start at night and overcome people in their sleep. Ionisation alarms can be slower to respond to this smoke, and they are more likely to false-alarm from cooking, which leads some people to disable them, removing their protection entirely. Legislation across the states is increasingly mandating photoelectric alarms, and we install them as standard.

Hardwired vs battery smoke alarms

Battery-only alarms are cheap and easy to fit but rely entirely on someone keeping the battery fresh, and a flat or removed battery is a leading reason alarms fail in a fire. Hardwired alarms are connected to your home mains power with a battery backup, so they are always powered and the backup covers a blackout. Hardwired alarms are required in new homes and major renovations, and are strongly recommended everywhere. Many modern alarms also use a sealed 10-year lithium battery, removing the need for annual battery changes. We install hardwired and sealed-battery photoelectric alarms for reliable, long-term protection.

Interconnected smoke alarms

One of the most important safety advances is interconnection, where all the smoke alarms in your home are linked so that when one detects smoke, they all sound together. This matters because a fire starting in a distant part of the house, say the garage or living room, will trigger the alarm right outside your bedroom too, waking you while there is still time to escape. A single alarm far from the bedrooms may not be heard in time. Interconnection can be hardwired or wireless, and it is now required in new builds and increasingly for rentals. We install interconnected alarms so your whole home warns you at once.

Where smoke alarms should be installed

Placement is as important as the alarm itself. As a minimum, alarms should be installed in or near every bedroom and sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house. Alarms should be on the ceiling, away from corners, air vents and ceiling fans that can disturb smoke flow, and not too close to kitchens or bathrooms where cooking and steam cause nuisance alarms. The exact requirements depend on your state and when your home was built. We know the rules and will position your alarms correctly for both compliance and real protection.

Smoke alarm legal requirements

Smoke alarms are mandatory in all Australian homes, but the specific requirements, the type, placement, interconnection and whether they must be hardwired, vary by state and by the age of the home, and the rules have been tightening. New homes and major renovations must meet the current standard, which generally means hardwired, interconnected photoelectric alarms. Rental properties have their own obligations on landlords, with required alarm types and regular testing. Rather than try to decode the legislation yourself, we can assess your home, tell you exactly what it requires, and install compliant alarms, giving you documentation for your records or your property manager.

Smoke alarms in rental properties

Landlords have clear legal obligations to install and maintain working smoke alarms in rental properties, and these requirements have become stricter across the states, often specifying photoelectric and interconnected alarms and regular testing between tenancies. Non-compliance carries penalties and, far worse, puts tenants at risk. We help landlords and property managers meet their obligations by installing compliant alarms, testing and maintaining them, and providing the documentation needed to prove compliance. Whether you manage one property or many, we can make sure your rentals meet the current smoke alarm laws and keep your tenants safe.

When to replace your smoke alarms

Smoke alarms do not last forever. Regardless of type, every smoke alarm should be replaced at least every 10 years, because the sensor degrades over time and becomes less reliable, even if the alarm still beeps when tested. Check the manufacture date printed on your alarm; if it is approaching or past 10 years, it is due for replacement. You should also replace any alarm that is damaged, yellowed, or false-alarming frequently. If your alarms are old, ionisation type, or battery-only, upgrading to modern photoelectric interconnected alarms is a worthwhile safety improvement. We can check the age of your alarms and replace any that are due.

Testing and maintaining your alarms

Alarms only protect you if they work, so regular checks matter. Test each alarm monthly by pressing the test button to confirm it sounds, and for alarms with replaceable batteries, change the battery yearly or whenever it chirps a low-battery warning. Keep alarms free of dust and cobwebs, which can affect the sensor, and never paint over them. A chirping alarm means a flat battery or an alarm at the end of its life, and should be dealt with promptly rather than disconnected. We can test, clean and maintain your alarms as part of an electrical safety check, so you know your protection is genuinely working.

Dealing with false alarms

Nuisance alarms from cooking or steam are frustrating, and they are dangerous when they lead people to disconnect an alarm, leaving the home unprotected. The better solution is correct alarm choice and placement: photoelectric alarms are less prone to cooking false-alarms than ionisation types, and keeping alarms a sensible distance from kitchens and bathrooms helps. Some alarms have a hush button to silence a nuisance alarm temporarily without disabling it. If your alarm false-alarms constantly, rather than pulling the battery, let us assess it, we can relocate it, replace it with a more suitable type, or identify if it is simply old and overdue for replacement.

Our smoke alarm service

We provide a complete smoke alarm service: assessing your home against the current requirements, recommending the right type and placement, installing hardwired and interconnected photoelectric alarms, and testing everything to confirm it works. We can replace old or expired alarms, upgrade battery-only setups to hardwired interconnected systems, and maintain alarms for homeowners and landlords. We explain clearly what your home needs and why, give you an upfront fixed price, and make sure you are left with reliable, compliant protection. It is a small investment for the most important safety system in your home.

How much do smoke alarms cost to install?

The cost depends on how many alarms you need, whether they are battery, hardwired or interconnected, and whether wiring needs to be run for hardwired alarms. Replacing existing hardwired alarms is quicker and cheaper than installing new hardwired points from scratch; sealed 10-year battery alarms are a cost-effective option where hardwiring is impractical. Doing a whole home at once is more economical per alarm. We give you an upfront fixed price before we start, and help you balance cost against the level of protection, always recommending at least photoelectric alarms correctly placed in and near every sleeping area.

Licensed electricians for smoke alarms

Installing hardwired and interconnected smoke alarms is licensed electrical work, so it must be done by a licensed electrician, both for safety and compliance. Our team installs, tests and maintains photoelectric and interconnected alarms to the current standards and your state requirements, positioning them correctly for genuine protection. You get honest advice, upfront fixed pricing, tidy work and the documentation you need. Protect your family and meet your legal obligations, we install and service smoke alarms across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with same-day service available where we can.

Smoke alarm FAQs

Do my smoke alarms need to be interconnected?

In most states, yes, for new installs, and across all Queensland homes by 2027. Interconnected means when one alarm detects smoke, they all sound, giving everyone more time to escape.

What is the difference between photoelectric and ionisation?

Photoelectric alarms detect smouldering fires faster and are now the required standard. Ionisation alarms are being phased out and should be replaced.

Where do smoke alarms need to go?

In each bedroom, in hallways connecting bedrooms, and on every storey. A licensed electrician can confirm the exact placement for your home.

Do I need an electrician to install smoke alarms?

Hardwired 240V alarms must be installed by a licensed electrician. Sealed 10-year battery alarms are also allowed under the rules in many cases.

How often should smoke alarms be replaced?

Every 10 years, or sooner if they fail a test or are an old ionisation type. The manufacture date is printed on the unit.

Can you replace old alarms with interconnected ones?

Yes. We remove your old alarms and install compliant interconnected photoelectric alarms throughout your home.

Are hardwired or battery alarms better?

Both are compliant. Hardwired alarms with battery backup are ideal for new builds and renovations; sealed 10-year battery alarms suit retrofits where wiring is difficult.

Do you service my area?

Yes. We install and upgrade smoke alarms across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and can often do it the same day.

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