“Replace 60 months” on First Alert smoke detector, but no beep?

March 30, 2018 11:07 AM

I have a First Alert SCO7 smoke/carbon monoxide detector, built in June 2011. It tests just fine. On the back, it says that it will give a specific warning beep when it reaches the end of its life, yet “replace unit after 60 months” is printed next to it. Aren’t these units supposed to last 7-10 years? Why would it say this?
posted by Seeking Direction to Home & Garden (2 answers total)

They are engineered to last for 10 years, but the ANSI/UL2034 specifications that came into effect in the US in 2009 require that there is an end-of-life warning after a certain amount of time. Perhaps yours isn't set for 60 months as labelled - it could be as much as twice that.
posted by pipeski at 11:22 AM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]

Every CO detector I've owned has gone out shrieking at 2-3 am after 6-7 years. The label's telling you that if you replace it at 5 years, it'll still be in useful life and you'll avoid one of the worst frights of your life.
posted by scruss at 4:16 PM on March 30, 2018 [2 favorites]