Smoke Alarm Installation Geelong
Hard-wired and interconnected smoke alarms for homes and rentals across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast, by CabledIN
Smoke alarm installation in Geelong by CabledIN covers new hard-wired alarms, replacing alarms that have reached ten years old, interconnecting alarms so they all sound together, and smoke alarm checks for homes that are rented out. Our licensed electricians (REC 30925) fit photoelectric alarms that comply with AS 3786 and give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety for hard-wired work.
Most homes are finished in one visit. We quote once we know the home.
- Replace every
- 10 years, hard-wired or battery
- Hard-wired alarms
- Must be installed by a licensed electrician
- Rented homes
- Alarm checks booked by owners or property managers, with a written record
- Who does it
- Licensed electricians, REC 30925
Smoke alarm installation in Geelong homes: what we do
Smoke alarms are steady work for us, most often in Leopold, Lara, Armstrong Creek, Ocean Grove, Bannockburn, Belmont, Newtown and Norlane. The jobs fall into a few groups:
- Replacing expired alarms. Every alarm has a manufacture date on it. At ten years it is due for replacement, even if it still beeps when you press the button.
- New hard-wired alarms. We run cable from a suitable circuit, fit the alarm base to the ceiling and connect a 240 V alarm with a backup battery.
- Interconnecting alarms. When one alarm senses smoke, every alarm in the house sounds. This can be done with cable or with wireless interconnect bases.
- Fixing alarms that chirp or go off for no reason. We find out whether it is the backup battery, dust, the position of the alarm or simply age.
- Checks for rented homes. We test each alarm, check its age and give the owner or property manager a written record.
Victorian smoke alarm rules in plain English
What your home needs depends on when it was built.
| Your home | What the rules require |
|---|---|
| Any Victorian home | Smoke alarms that comply with AS 3786 must be installed |
| Built before 1 August 1997 | Battery-powered alarms are the legal minimum |
| Built after 1 August 1997 | 240 V mains-powered alarms with a backup battery |
| Built or substantially renovated after 1 May 2014, with more than one alarm | The alarms must be interconnected |
The legal minimum for placement is an alarm between each sleeping area and the rest of the house, and at least one on every storey. Victoria's fire services recommend going further, with an alarm in every bedroom, hallway and living area. Alarms are not needed in kitchens, bathrooms or laundries, where steam and cooking set them off.
Hard-wired 240 V alarms must be installed and replaced by a licensed electrician. Anyone can change a backup battery.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
Which type of smoke alarm is right for your home?
Fire services recommend photoelectric alarms, and that is what we fit. Within that there are three common choices:
- 240 V alarm with a replaceable backup battery. The standard hard-wired alarm. The backup battery should be changed each year.
- 240 V alarm with a sealed ten-year lithium backup battery. No yearly battery change. The whole alarm is replaced at ten years.
- Stand-alone alarm with a sealed ten-year lithium battery. Suits older homes where battery alarms are the legal minimum, or rooms where running a cable is not practical.
If your home was built before August 1997 you are not required to move to hard-wired alarms, but many owners do it when the alarms are due anyway. A mains-powered, interconnected set means a fire at one end of the house wakes people at the other end.
What happens on the day
- Walk through. We check how many alarms you have, where they are, how old they are and how they are powered.
- Agree the plan. We tell you what the rules require for your home, what the fire services recommend beyond that, and the price for each option before any work starts.
- Install. Old alarms come down, new bases go up and the alarms are connected. If we add alarms, we run the cable through the roof space where we can. Power to that circuit is off for a short time while we connect.
- Test. Each alarm is tested, and on an interconnected set we confirm that triggering one alarm sounds them all.
- Show you how it works. We show you the test and hush buttons and where the replace-by date is printed.
- Paperwork. Hard-wired work is electrical installation work, so you receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Smoke alarm checks for rented homes
Owners and property managers book us to check the smoke alarms in homes they rent out. We arrange a time with the household, test each alarm according to the manufacturer's instructions, check its age and position, and leave a written record of what we found. An alarm that fails its test or has reached ten years old is quoted for replacement, and nothing is replaced until the quote is approved.
Many owners book the alarm check together with an electrical safety inspection, so the property is visited once.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Testing and looking after your alarms
The Country Fire Authority's advice is simple:
- Test each alarm every month by pressing the test button.
- Clean each alarm once a year. Dust is a common cause of false alarms.
- Change 9 V backup batteries once a year.
- Replace every alarm at ten years.
A single chirp every minute or so usually means the backup battery is low or the alarm has reached the end of its life. If a hard-wired alarm keeps chirping after a new battery, or sounds for no reason, it needs an electrician. If smoke alarms are sounding out of hours and you cannot stop them, our 24/7 emergency electricians answer the phone around the clock.
Why choose CabledIN for your smoke alarms
- Licensed Victorian Registered Electrical Contractor, REC 30925
- More than 20 years' experience, based in North Geelong
- Lifetime workmanship warranty
- 2,000+ five-star Google reviews
- A Certificate of Electrical Safety for hard-wired alarm work
- 24/7 emergency call-outs
Recent smoke alarm jobs around Geelong
Alarm replacements and new hard-wired installs from our own jobs.
What customers say
Angelo came to do a smoke alarm check, he was right on time and super efficient. He was super friendly and helpful, loved the service
James, Google review
Daniel did a fantastic job checking our smoke alarm. He was professional, friendly, punctual, and explained everything clearly. He checked the alarm thoroughly and made sure everything was working properly. Really happy with his service and would definitely recommend Daniel to anyone looking for a reliable electrician. Great work!
Syed, Google review
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an electrician to install a smoke alarm?
For a hard-wired 240 V alarm, yes. In Victoria these must be installed and replaced by a licensed electrician. Anyone can fit a stand-alone battery alarm or change a backup battery.
Do I need an electrician to replace hard-wired smoke detectors?
Yes. Replacing a 240 V alarm is electrical work, even when the new alarm goes in the same position. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety when it is done.
Where should smoke alarms be located in a Victorian home?
The legal minimum is between each sleeping area and the rest of the house, and on every storey. Fire services recommend an alarm in every bedroom, hallway and living area as well. They are not needed in kitchens, bathrooms or laundries.
How often should smoke alarms be replaced?
Every ten years, whether they are hard-wired or battery-powered. The manufacture or replace-by date is printed on the alarm.
Do my smoke alarms have to be interconnected?
If your home was built or substantially renovated after 1 May 2014 and needs more than one alarm, they must be interconnected. For older homes it is not required, but it is worth doing when the alarms are being replaced.
My house was built before 1997. Do I have to install hard-wired alarms?
No. Homes built before 1 August 1997 need only battery-powered alarms that comply with AS 3786. Many owners still choose mains-powered alarms because there is less to maintain.
Can you check the smoke alarms in a home I rent out?
Yes. We arrange access with the household, test each alarm, check its age and position, and give the owner or property manager a written record. Any alarm that needs replacing is quoted first, and the check can be done at the same visit as an electrical safety inspection.
Why does my smoke alarm keep chirping?
A regular chirp usually means a low backup battery or an alarm that has reached the end of its life. If a hard-wired alarm still chirps after a fresh battery, have an electrician check it.
Which areas do you cover for smoke alarm installation?
Leopold and Lara are where we replace the most alarms, followed by Armstrong Creek, Ocean Grove and Bannockburn. We cover all of Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast and Golden Plains.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.