Over 10 years old
Smoke alarms wear out. Check the date on the back. If it's more than 10 years old, replace it.
Smoke & CO alarms
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Installation in Marlboro, NJ, with Same-Day Service
Chirping at 3 a.m.? Alarms over 10 years old? Getting ready to sell your home? Our licensed electricians install and replace hardwired smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors so your family is protected and your home is ready for the New Jersey resale fire inspection. If you're searching for smoke detector installation near me, we serve all of Marlboro and nearby towns.
Many alarm jobs are done the same day.
- Hardwired & interconnected
- Smoke & CO combo units
- Resale inspection prep
- Kidde & First Alert
Time to replace?
Signs Your Smoke or CO Alarms Need Attention
Smoke and CO alarms are your simplest protection from the worst day of your life. But only if they work.
Chirping
A chirp usually means a low backup battery or an alarm at end of life. Some newer units chirp when they expire.
False alarms
Alarms that sound from shower steam or cooking may be old, dusty or in the wrong spot.
Not interconnected
When one alarm sounds, all of them should. Older homes often lack this.
No CO alarm
Homes with gas heat, a gas range, a fireplace or an attached garage need carbon monoxide alarms.
Remodel or finished basement
New bedrooms and finished spaces need alarms too.
New Jersey requirements
Smoke and CO Alarm Rules in New Jersey Homes
New Jersey's rules depend largely on when your home was built.
| Home built | What's typically required |
|---|---|
| Before 1977 | Smoke alarms on each level, including the basement. Battery-only alarms must be 10-year sealed battery units |
| 1977 to about 1990 | Hardwired (AC-powered) smoke alarms with battery backup, kept as originally installed |
| After about 1990 | Hardwired, interconnected smoke alarms, often including one in every bedroom |
| Any home with fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage | Carbon monoxide alarms within about 10 feet of sleeping areas |
Placement
Where Smoke and CO Alarms Should Go
Location is just as important as having an alarm at all.
- On every level of the home, including the basement near the stairs
- Outside each sleeping area, in the hallway within about 10 feet of bedroom doors
- Inside bedrooms in newer homes, and in any new bedroom you add
- CO alarms near sleeping areas, and on levels with fuel-burning appliances
- Away from kitchens, bathrooms and air vents, where steam or drafts cause false alarms
Combination alarms
A combination smoke and CO alarm covers both in one device. It's a clean way to add CO protection near bedrooms using the existing hardwired location.
Selling your home
Getting Ready for Your NJ Resale Fire Inspection
Every New Jersey home sale needs a smoke and CO alarm certificate from the local fire official. We get your alarms ready.
Check what you have
We look at every alarm's type, age and location and compare it to what your home needs.
Replace and add
We replace expired alarms, add missing ones and make sure hardwired units are interconnected.
Test everything
Every alarm is tested so all units sound together.
You schedule the inspection
Your local fire official inspects and issues the certificate needed for closing.
The extinguisher rule changed
A New Jersey law that took effect in February 2025 removed the portable fire extinguisher as a statewide condition of the resale certificate for one- and two-family homes. Some local checklists still mention it, so confirm with your fire official.
Plan ahead
Inspections can fail over a single expired alarm. Have us check your alarms when you list the house, not the week before closing. Pair it with an electrical safety inspection to catch other items a buyer's inspector may flag.
Carbon monoxide
Why Carbon Monoxide Alarms Matter During Outages
Outages are when CO alarms matter most.
Carbon monoxide has no color and no smell. During long power outages, it's a bigger risk because people use generators, gas ranges and fireplaces in ways they normally don't.
If you use a portable generator, keep it outside and far from windows, and make sure your CO alarms work. See our generator transfer switch page for safe hookups.
If a CO alarm sounds
- Get everyone outside to fresh air right away
- Call 911 from outside
- Don't go back in until responders say it's safe
- Have fuel-burning appliances checked before using them again
Helpful guides
Read Before You Book
Plain-English answers to the questions homeowners ask us most.
Brands & service areas
Brands We Service and Towns We Cover
Alarm Brands We Install
Hardwired, interconnected and combination smoke and CO alarms from trusted brands.
View All BrandsServing Marlboro and Nearby Towns
Smoke and CO alarm installation in Marlboro and these nearby towns.
View All Service AreasQuestions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my smoke detector chirping?
Most often the backup battery is low, or the alarm has reached the end of its life. If it's over 10 years old, replace the whole unit.
How often should smoke detectors be replaced?
Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. CO alarms often have shorter lives. Check the date on the back of each unit.
Can I replace a hardwired smoke detector with a battery one?
No. In New Jersey, hardwired alarms must be replaced with hardwired alarms to keep your home compliant.
Can you get my alarms ready for the resale inspection?
Yes. We replace expired or wrong-type alarms and test the whole system so it's ready when the fire official inspects. Seller rules are covered in NJ Smoke Detector Certificate: What Sellers Need to Know
Do I still need a fire extinguisher to sell my home in NJ?
A 2025 state law removed the extinguisher as a statewide requirement for the resale certificate on one- and two-family homes. Check your town's current checklist.
Where should carbon monoxide detectors be installed?
Near sleeping areas, and on levels with fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage.
What does interconnected mean?
Interconnected alarms talk to each other. When one detects smoke, all of them sound, so everyone hears it.
Protect Your Family and Pass Your Inspection
Book a same-day smoke and CO alarm visit with a licensed Marlboro electrician.
(732) 419-5195