Durable Rentals

What About Wired Smoke Alarms?

I highly suggest installing wired smoke detectors if you are doing a full gut rehab on a building. I doubt it is cost-effective in a cosmetic rehab. The hard-wired alarms don’t rely on the battery for power, but for backup power. This is still a huge deal because these only chirp at night for whatever reason. So, even with hard-wired smoke alarms, I suggest the lithium backup battery for ease of use.

What is the Best Smoke Detector for Rental Properties?

After all that explanation, here are my recommendations for smoke detectors for your rental property. I suggest KIDDIE detectors for one reason, consistency. These detectors stay the same shape, and use the same mounting plate (and plug type, for wired detectors) for at least 10 years now. Just take one down, click the next detector in its place and you are good to go. They also install in about 5 minutes.

Best Battery Smoke/CO Detector?

This detector is my favorite for rental properties in our area. The buildings here are almost always over 100 years old, so wired detectors aren’t available. Having a Lithium battery powered detector means the tenant never touches it, which is always good for the life of anything in your unit. Author KylePosted on May 10, 2022May 19, 2022

How do Thermocouples Work?

Thermocouples are brilliant pieces of technology invented in 1821. It is nearly universal on gas water heaters and hasn’t really changed in the last 30-50 years. It works through a nice little physical chemistry trick. Two metals are alloyed together and when they are heated they conduct a small amount of electricity. This electricity activates an electromagnet which allows the gas to flow.

How Do Thermocouples Stop Working?

Thermocouples stop working from being in the flame of the pilot light. The flame slowly oxidizes the metal and it degrades. As the shape of the thermocouple and the composition of the alloy change from degradation, the electricity generated will diminish until it can no longer energize the electromagnet to keep the gas flow open. In a nutshell, the pilot light won’t stay lit.