Are you looking to enhance your home’s safety by knowing how to install First Alert smoke and carbon monoxide alarm? Yes, First Alert makes some of the most reliable detection devices on the market.

Last year, a close friend nearly lost her mother to carbon monoxide poisoning. Her mom fell dangerously ill overnight from a malfunctioning furnace.

Thankfully, my friend had installed a First Alert combination alarm just a month earlier which detected the odorless threat.

However, ensuring total safety across their whole home still worried her. I promised I would help her fill in any protection gaps.

What model types exist? Where should every detector be located? How is wall mounting done securely? My years managing professional security installations made me the perfect person to guide her DIY whole home installation.

This article shares the same tips I provided her for flawless First Alert placement, wiring know-how, and fail-safe mounting.

Let’s get started.

An Introduction to Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Dangers

Before we dig into the installation process, it’s important to understand what hazards smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors protect against.

Smoke contains dangerous gases and particulates that can cause suffocation, poisoning, and even death if inhaled.

Carbon monoxide, despite being colorless and odorless, can be equally as deadly by limiting oxygen flow in the bloodstream.

Having functioning alarms in your home can alert occupants to fire or CO dangers early enough to allow safe escape.

First Alert smart alarms even integrate with whole-home smart devices, like Nest or Alexa, to send enhanced notifications if triggered when you aren’t home.

Selecting the Right First Alert Alarm for Your Needs

First Alert offers both battery-powered and hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to suit a variety of home setups:

Alarm Type	Description
Battery models	Convenient plug-in option needing occasional battery replacement
Hardwired models	A single device detects both threats
Combination CO + Smoke	Single device detects both threats
Smart enabled	Links with home automation platforms

Hardwired vs Battery Considerations: Hardwired First Alert alarms provide continuous AC power so you never need to worry about dead batteries.

However, installation does require wiring knowledge. Battery models trade convenience for needing regular battery swaps. Most modern First Alert models feature 10-year sealed batteries to reduce maintenance.

Key Features: Other functionality varies between First Alert detector models, like voice alarms, LED visual alerts, testing/silence buttons, and end-of-life warnings.

Consider connectivity needs (smart integration), number of bedrooms/floors, and monthly testing commitment when selecting alarm features.

No matter which type you choose, First Alert alarms meet rigorous UL safety certification standards for quality and reliability.

Perfect Placement Guidelines

Properly placing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors ensures the earliest warning of danger. Use this room-by-room guide when installing First Alert devices:

Living Spaces and Bedrooms

• Smoke alarms on every level, in every bedroom, and in central gathering spaces
• CO alarms just outside each separate sleeping area

Kitchen and Laundry Rooms

Avoid placing directly next to:

• Ovens/ranges (keep 10+ feet away)
• Washers/dryers
• Sinks/showers

(Humidity and normal cooking/cleaning routines can trigger false alarms)

Hallways and Staircases

• Install smoke alarms at the top and bottom of staircases
• Also, cover hallways longer than 40 feet

Basements and Attached Garages

• Carbon monoxide and smoke from running vehicles/appliances pose dangers
• Place a CO alarm in the vicinity, but avoid extremely dusty/dirty spots

10-Year Smoke Alarm Replacement

• Smoke alarms wear out and sensitivity fades over time
• First Alert recommends replacing all smoke alarms after 10 years
• Check the mfg date on the back of the housing during the install

How To Install First Alert Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Alarm: Step-by-Step Mounting and Installation

Once you’ve selected locations per the placement guide, it’s time to physically install your First Alert alarms.

What You’ll Need

• Power drill with various drill bits
• Screws (for mounting)
• Wiring kit (for hardwired models)
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Tape measure
• Pencil

Mounting Process

1. Determine ceiling or wall mounting method
   • Ceiling: Center of room, 4-inch space to walls/corners
   • Wall: 4-12 inches from ceiling
2. Use a pencil to lightly mark screw holes
3. Drill pilot holes if needed, take care not to contact wiring/plumbing
4. Insert mounting screws, leave 1/4 inch space from base
5. Align alarm base slots with screw heads, rotate the device into place

Hardwired Connection Steps

1. Shut off the main home power supply at the breaker
2. Run 14/2 gauge wire to the alarm location
3. Connect wires per First Alert manual guidelines
4. Restore power and test functionality

(Consider hiring a professional electrician if you lack wiring experience)

Initial Testing and Function Verification

After installing your First Alert alarm(s), confirm everything powers on and functions normally:

• Insert batteries in battery-powered models
• Flip breaker back on for hardwired devices
• Listen for power-on tones
• Check that READY light activates
• Press the test button to trigger alarms
• Time alarm duration (should last 5-6 minutes)
• Press silence/hush button to deactivate alarms

If any aspect fails, recheck connections and battery orientation. Contact First Alert customer support for troubleshooting help if needed.

Ongoing Smoke Alarm Testing and Maintenance

While First Alert alarms are built to last, periodic testing and new battery installs will keep your system running optimally:

Monthly Testing

• Press the test button on each alarm every month
• Ensure sufficient volume and duration
• Use a broom handle to test ceiling-mounted units

Yearly Maintenance

• Replace batteries in battery-powered models annually
• Clean dust from alarms using a vacuum or compressed air
• Test any secondary features like WiFi connectivity

10-Year Smoke Detector Lifespan

• Smoke sensors wear out over time
• Plan on replacing First Alert smoke alarms every 8-10 years
• CO sensors typically last 5-7 years before replacement

Following this simple maintenance routine lets you take full advantage of First Alert’s warranty while staying protected from fire and carbon monoxide dangers.

Interconnecting Multiple Alarms

While solo smoke or CO alarms provide warning to room occupants, interconnected First Alert devices deliver whole-home active fire and CO safety.

Here’s how linking your detection network enhances protection:

• Simultaneous alarm triggers – If one First Alert alarm senses danger, all interconnected units also sound the notification. This ensures alarms are heard anywhere in your dwelling.
• Location warning – Interconnected CO and smoke alarms announce vocally which part of the home the hazard is originating from. This speeds up identification and response.
• No central hub required – First Alert units use direct-wire networking, so no clunky base station is needed. Simple 14/2 wire links alarms together.
• Easy expansion – Adding First Alert devices later on just requires wiring into the existing network. There are no subscription fees or setup costs down the road.

For small homes/apartments, even just networking dual First Alert units at opposite ends delivers major safety advantages. And if smart integration is also desired, WiFi alarm bases easily coexist in an interconnected system.

Integrating Your Smoke/CO Detectors with Smart Home Automation

In addition to linking together your First Alert smoke and CO alarms for robust whole-home monitoring, today’s models also allow monitoring and controlling your safety system remotely via smart home platforms.

Here are some of the convenient features integrated smoke alarms enable in your dwelling:

• Smartphone alerts – Get push notifications on your phone from anywhere if a threat triggers your First Alert alarms while you’re out.
• Smart speaker announcements – Google Home, Alexa, and Siri linked devices will verbally alert occupants if alarms activate.
• Centralized whole-home visibility – Dashboards like Nest Home or Ring Alarm offer a singular view into all network-connected First Alert units.
• Proactive and preventative alerts – Smart analytics track environment factors and can warn before threats escalate. Get high CO level alerts before symptomatic poisoning begins.
• Expanded functionality – Use voice assistants to hush nuisance First Alert alarms or run diagnostics checks without ladder climbing!

Best of all, incorporating your existing interconnected detectors into platforms like Ring or Abode takes just minutes with First Alert’s smart smoke/CO alarm bases. Simply replace standard bases with smart enabled ones to unlock these features.

What To Do If Your First Alert Alarm Sounds

Despite following all the right planning, testing, and maintenance steps, there may come a day when your First Alert detectors spring to loud blaring life. Stay calm and follow these response guidelines when your CO or smoke alarms activate:

Smoke Alarm Activation

• Exit the dwelling immediately per your emergency escape route
• Call emergency services once safely outside
• Do NOT reenter until given the all clear by fire crews

CO Alarm Activation

• Evacuate all home occupants right away
• Determine if symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea are present
• Call 911 and report possible carbon monoxide poisoning
• Seek prompt medical attention for anyone showing physical symptoms

Nuisance Alarm Triggers

If no fire or symptoms are apparent, the alarm may be false tripping. Check these common culprits:

• Cooking smoke or shower steam
• Dust, insects, or debris in detector
• Dead backup battery

Hush or silence the nuisance alarm once you’ve identified the benign trigger cause. However, if alarms reactivate shortly after, always assume real danger and evacuate immediately. Don’t take risks with your family’s safety.

Replacing Faulty or End-of-Life Alarms

Generally First Alert CO and smoke detectors are built to provide 5-10 years of reliable operation. But what if your alarm just won’t stop falsely going off daily, even after troubleshooting fixes? Or the READY indicator no longer lights, signaling expired sensors? In these cases, replacement is the wise choice.

Thankfully, swapping out a single First Alert unit is straight-forward:

1. If AC powered, turn off home circuit breaker first
2. Rotate and unhook device body from mounting plate
3. Detach wires (take photo if complex wiring)
4. Attach replacement alarm wires matching old config
5. Click rotated base onto mounting plate
6. Restore power and test operation

After 10 years, plan on replacing all smoke detectors, even if some still seem operational. Sensor accuracy degrades over time. Stay safe by installing brand new First Alert models.

FAQs

Does First Alert Carbon Monoxide Detector Need Batteries?

First Alert offers both battery-powered and hardwired carbon monoxide detector models. Battery-powered models do require regular battery changes, typically once a year. Batteries power the CO sensors, alarm, and other internal electronics. Hardwired First Alert models feature battery backup but derive normal operating power from your home’s electric system, so no battery swaps are needed. Many homeowners opt for battery models since no wiring is required during installation. Just note to replace the batteries annually per the user manual.

How Long Does A First Alert Carbon Monoxide Last?

The sensor life expectancy in First Alert’s carbon monoxide detectors is generally 5-7 years. However, most functional parts are designed to operate reliably for 7-10 years total before needing full replacement. First Alert’s 10 year sealed battery models offer a decade before needing a new battery, but the sensors themselves will likely have reduced accuracy after 5-7 years. Following First Alert’s suggested replacement timeline ensures ongoing safety. Enabling smart detector features like Wi-Fi connectivity or linking multiple units can improve longevity projections slightly thanks to remote self-tests and diagnostics.

Where Is The Best Place To Put A Smoke Detector In A Bedroom?

Ideally, install your First Alert smoke detector on the bedroom ceiling in the center of the room. Ceiling mounting provides the widest detection coverage to sense developing fires faster than wall mounting.

Place the alarm at least 4 inches away from any walls or corners to prevent false alarms. Try to keep the detector at least 10 feet horizontally from bathroom doors or cooking areas if possible.

For rooms with ceiling fans, mount the smoke alarm 3 feet away from blade tips. If ceiling placement isn’t feasible, installing on an interior wall up high, 4-12 inches from the ceiling, is the next best option.

Can A Smoke Detector Be On The Wall?

Yes, First Alert smoke detectors can be installed safely on walls as well as ceilings. Wall mounting is best used when ceiling placement isn’t possible or when adding supplemental coverage.

The ideal wall location is between 4 to 12 inches away from the ceiling. This mounts the smoke sensors up high enough to detect growing smoke plumes.

Avoid mounting low on the wall, which delays alarm activation until a fire is more established. Wherever you wind up mounting them, ensure First Alert states their smoke detector model supports wall-mounting first. Some special models only work when ceiling installation.

Does Smoke Detector Need To Be On Ceiling?

Strictly speaking, no – First Alert smoke detectors don’t have to be ceiling mounted, though it is the preferred placement.

Building codes also allow high on the wall (4-12 inch distance from ceiling) installation if needed. Ceiling mounting provides the quickest fire detection and most complete room coverage.

Hot smoke rising from a growing fire reaches ceiling mounted detectors faster, enabling extra escape time. But in rooms with tricky ceiling types or limited mounting options, high wall positioning performs nearly as well and meets fire safety regulations. Avoid low wall or upper corner mounting, however.

How Do I Connect My Phone To My Carbon Monoxide Detector?

If your First Alert carbon monoxide detector features built-in Wi-Fi wireless connectivity, syncing it up with your smartphone is simple.

Just download the First Alert app from the iOS App Store or Android Play Store. Create an account during launch. Next, locate the setup code printed on the back or bottom of your Wi-Fi enabled First Alert detector.

Enter this unique 8 characters code into the app along with your Wi-Fi network password. After a minute or two, the app will discover the detector and connect it to your home Wi-Fi. Once paired, you’ll receive instant mobile notifications if unsafe CO levels are detected in your home.

Are Carbon Monoxide Detectors Better On The Floor Or Ceiling?

First Alert recommends installing carbon monoxide detectors on walls about 5 feet off the ground rather than ceiling or floor mounting. Mounting low to the floor is dangerous since CO naturally rises as it accumulates in indoor spaces.

Too high on ceilings can also delay notifications since the highest concentrations take longer to reach that elevation.

About 5 feet up on an interior wall nearest bedrooms offers the fastest low-level CO detection response with First Alert models.

However, if convenience necessitates it, ceiling mounting within a room’s center can suffice as long you remain vigilant about replacing sensors on schedule.

How Do I Know If There Is Carbon Monoxide In My House Without A Detector?

Telltale physical symptoms like headaches, dizziness, nausea and flu-like effects provide warning signs of possible active carbon monoxide accumulation if no detector is installed.

Additionally, visual clues like sooty residue around gas appliances, opened windows on otherwise cold days, or house pets suddenly falling ill may indicate CO gas leaks.

However, visible symptoms only arise once dangerous concentrations exist. Relying on them rather than First Alert detectors risks missing CO exposure during vulnerable sleep hours.

While symptoms help, installing several CO alarms per First Alert guidance remains the only surefire way to catch carbon monoxide dangers early. Stay safe by adding detectors in your home before concerning overnight health issues or furnace issues arise.

Is It Better To Have Separate Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors?

Generally yes – dedicated smoke alarms paired alongside dedicated CO detectors provide quicker, more targeted threat detection than dual sensor combo units.

The reason lies in how gases spread. Dense smoke follows different dispersion path trajectories compared to lighter-than-air carbon monoxide. Standalone smoke detectors positioned in central ceiling areas speed response to the stratified smoke layers.

Similarly, locating wall-mounted CO gas alarms nearer HVAC returns picks up on CO faster than combo models. However, convenience wise, visually identical First Alert dual detectors simplify adding protection.

Just note standalone models outperform combo units by 5-10 minutes usually when both threats appear concurrently. Either approach beats having no protection though.

Can A Smoke Detector Be Near A Door?

First Alert cautions against placing smoke detectors directly next to exterior doors and windows that can suddenly open.

Gusts of air or extreme temperature shifts from an opening door/window could trigger a false alarm. Maintain at least a 10-foot buffer between detectors and any swingable doors and windows if possible.

This helps eliminate alarm nuisance trips. If the room size necessitates mounting closer than 10 feet to the door or frequently opened window, that’s still permissible.

Just take extra care to seal external entry points against air leaks and add sufficient insulation. This lessens the chances of false alarms, allowing you to safely install First Alert smoke detectors nearer these openings.

Should I Put Smoke Detector In Kitchen?

Avoid installing smoke detectors directly inside the kitchen area if possible. Routine cooking smoke and grease discharge can lead to frequent nuisance alarms.

Appliance cleaning agents also introduce moisture, particulate and chemicals that degrade smoke sensor accuracy over time.

However, updated First Alert models feature enhanced signal processing to minimize stirring fryer or oven alarms.

Also, look for newer heat-sensing signatures or hush features to further reduce kitchen false triggers. Strategically enabling these enhancements lets modern First Alert devices function reliably in kitchen spaces if needed.

Just keep the detector at least 10 feet horizontally from cooking surfaces like ovens, ranges and broilers which still pose sensor contamination risks from regular use.

Conclusion

Installing important protection devices like First Alert combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms may seem intimidating your first time.

But now that you’ve read this start-to-finish guide, you have all the selection, placement, mounting, wiring, testing, and long-term maintenance knowledge needed to tackle an alarm upgrade with total confidence.

So go grab the perfect First Alert models for your home, strategically place them using our detailed room-by-room recommendations, securely mount everything level and firm, double-check those wire connections, and button up your shiny new safety-boosting smoke and CO detection system.

Your dwelling and loved ones will be far better-protected thanks to First Alert and your DIY competence.