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May 29, 2025

Why Replacing Your Smoke Alarms Could Save Your Life

When was the last time you checked your smoke alarms? For many Melbourne homeowners, smoke alarms are out of sight and out of mind— until they fail to go off when it matters most. The reality is, smoke alarms have a limited lifespan and replacing them before their expiry date can literally be a life-saving decision. Professional smoke alarm installation ensures your alarms are up to standard, compliant, and functioning when it matters most. If you’re unsure about the condition of yours, a licensed Melbourne electrician can help assess and upgrade your system to meet current safety standards.

Did you know that your sense of smell is significantly diminished while you’re asleep and can’t be relied on to wake you up in an emergency? Only working smoke alarms can save lives!

We recently helped a homeowner in Mill Park, Mrs. Lynch, upgrade her smoke alarm system with modern, hard-wired, interconnected units, improving the safety and compliance of her home.

When Should You Replace Your Smoke Alarms?

Most smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years, even if they still appear to work. Over time, the internal sensors lose sensitivity, and older alarms often lack the reliability or features of newer models.

Signs It’s Time for a Smoke Alarm Upgrade:

  • The alarm is over 10 years old
  • It chirps or beeps even after changing the battery
  • It’s not interconnected with others in the home
  • It uses ionisation technology instead of photoelectric sensors
  • It’s been painted over or damaged
  • In Victoria, new legislation also requires hard-wired smoke alarms (not battery-only) in most residential dwellings, and they should be interconnected so that if one goes off, they all do.

Case Study: Smoke Alarm Upgrade in Mill Park

Mrs. Lynch contacted O’Shea Electrical after noticing her smoke alarms were becoming unreliable. Her existing units were outdated and no longer compliant with current safety standards.

Our licensed electricians attended her Mill Park home and:

  1. Disconnected and removed the existing alarms
  2. Supplied and installed three new hard-wired smoke alarms with wireless interconnect, allowing the alarms to communicate without needing extra cabling
  3. Installed them in the same locations, ensuring optimal coverage
  4. Tested and commissioned each unit to confirm they were working properly
  5. Cleaned up the workspace, leaving the home neat and safe

 

The result? A home that is now safer, compliant, and protected with the latest alarm technology, giving Mrs. Lynch peace of mind.

 

Why Interconnected Smoke Alarms Are a Must-Have

When smoke is detected in one part of the house, every alarm should sound. This is particularly critical at night, when occupants in other rooms may not hear a single, isolated alarm. Wireless interconnected alarms provide full-house coverage with minimal disruption to your ceilings and walls during installation.

Modern smoke alarms are also designed to detect smouldering fires more effectively, giving families vital extra minutes to evacuate.

Need an electrical safety check or an emergency electrician? We’re here to help—fast, reliable service when you need it most.

Choose Experience. Choose Safety. Choose O’Shea.

At O’Shea Electrical, we specialise in smoke alarm installation, testing, and compliance upgrades. Whether you’re replacing old units or upgrading to meet new regulations, our team delivers fast, reliable service across Melbourne’s northern and eastern suburbs.

We offer:

  • Fully licensed electricians
  • Latest compliant smoke alarm models
  • Clear pricing with no surprises
  • Same-day service available

Contact us today for a free quote

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