Smoke Detectors & Surge Protection

Hardwired smoke detectors are more reliable than battery-only units because they’re connected to your home’s electrical system with battery backup. When one detector triggers, all interconnected units alarm together, giving your family more warning time.

Texas building codes require smoke detectors in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home. For a typical 3-bedroom North Texas home, that’s at least 5-6 detectors.

If your home has gas appliances, an attached garage, or a fireplace, CO detectors are strongly recommended. Texas doesn’t mandate them statewide, but many North Texas cities require them in new construction. CO is odorless and can be deadly.

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Yes. HVAC systems are one of the most expensive appliances to repair or replace after a power surge. A whole-house surge protector at the panel helps shield your AC compressor, furnace controls, and thermostat from damaging voltage spikes.

Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years and CO detectors every 5-7 years, even if they seem to work. The sensors degrade over time and become less reliable. Check the manufacture date on the back of each unit.

A whole-house surge protector is installed at your electrical panel and shields all circuits from voltage spikes caused by lightning, utility switching, or power grid fluctuations. North Texas is prone to severe thunderstorms, making this a valuable investment.

Whole-house surge protection handles large surges from outside your home. Point-of-use surge protectors at individual devices provide an additional layer of defense against smaller internal surges. Using both gives the best protection for sensitive electronics.