South Coast Electrical Solutions Pty Ltd

Category: Smoke Alarms

Checking your Smoke Alarm is important.
Smoke alarms are one of the most important piece’s of safety equipment that you have in your home.

Having working smoke alarms is a responsibility that we can’t afford to ignore. The consequences of ignorance can be catastrophic. It’s really easy to have the smoke detectors tested. Even you might be able to check the alarm yourself in a matter of minutes.

If you’re looking for peace of mind and want a licensed electrician to check your Smoke Alarms at your property in Batemans Bay, call South Coast Electrical Solutions.

Smoke detectors are one of the most important piece’s of safety equipment that you have in the home (along with safety switches). However, sadly, each year people still die in house fires. They die because their smoke detectors didn’t go off. This could be due to flat batteries or someone has removed the batteries because the alarm kept giving a false alarm. Somebody may have even removed their alarms and intended to have them replaced and have forgotten. If you’re looking for a licensed electrician to check your Smoke Alarms at your property in Batemans Bay, call South Coast Electrical Solutions today.

How long does a smoke alarm last?

Smoke alarms have a ten year shelf life. Replace smoke alarms before the expiry date. We recommend hard wired smoke alarms to be replaced by yourself or a licensed electrician. Even if they are still working . If the alarm in your home is over 10 years old, the alarm will need to be replaced.

There should be a ‘replace by date’ sticker on the smoke alarm. It might be on the outside of the unit or sometimes they are located on the inside of the door. Check the expiry date to see when it should be replaced. The maximum life for a smoke detector is 10 years. What happens if there is no sticker or legible date? Our electricians in Batemans Bay recommended to replace the smoke detector or book in with your electrician to have it replaced.

Testing your smoke detectors

Press the test button and the alarm should sound emphatically. Do you have a smoke alarm that is a battery powered alarm? Does the alarm have a weak signal or perhaps it doesn’t sound at all. Change the battery and retest the alarm. If it’s a hardwired alarm and it doesn’t work then contact your electrician immediately, the Hardwired smoke alarms can be installed by South Coast Electrical Solutions. We are your licensed residential electricians located in Batemans Bay.

Make a record

After you have checked your smoke detector and it is working. Put a note on your calendar or put a note in your phone. you should record the date of when the alarm was tested. Schedule a re-test every month. Especially if it’s a battery operated unit.

You can’t be guaranteed that your alarm will provide you with a persistent beeping when it’s on the way out. If you’re looking for a licensed electrician to check your Smoke Alarms at your property in Batemans Bay, call South Coast Electrical Solutions today.

The smoke alarm needs replacement- What type of smoke alarm should do you recommend?

South Coast Electrical Solutions, located in Batemans Bay, will only install top quality photoelectric Australian Standard smoke alarms. This is to comply with NSW legislation. We will issue a certificate of compliance for the alarms in your property.

Photoelectric smoke alarms are what our electricians in Batemans Bay recommend. We do not recommend Ionisation smoke alarms. The Ionisation alarms are not as effective at detecting fires that are slow smouldering. If there is a slow smouldering fire, they are the ones that are undetected are generally the leading cause of deaths due to fires in homes. Photoelectric sensors detect the types of fires that smoulder for hours before bursting into flames. If you’re looking for a licensed electrician to check your Smoke Alarms at your property in Batemans Bay, call South Coast Electrical Solutions today.

If you’re looking for a licensed electrician to check your Smoke Alarms at your property in Batemans Bay, call South Coast Electrical Solutions today.

Our Electricians service the following areas:
Batehaven

Batemans Bay

Broulee

Catalina

Denhams Beach
Guerilla Bay

Lilli Pilli

Long Beach

Maloneys Beach

Malua Bay
Mossy Point

Nelligen

Rosedale

Sunshine Bay

Surf Beach

Surfside
July 21, 2022
When is the best time to check your smoke alarms?
When is the best time to check your smoke alarms are still working?

When is the best time to check your smoke alarms are still working? The Fire NSW have suggested that smoke alarms are checked once a month.

Here is our smoke alarm maintenance guide:

Once a month

It is best to test your smoke alarm batteries every month by pressing and holding the test button for at least five seconds until you hear the beeps.

Every Six months clean your smoke alarms.

Every Six months smoke alarms should be cleaned. This involves Vacuuming the dust off your smoke alarms. Keep your smoke alarm free of particles to help reduce false alarms and ensure smoke can easily reach the internal sensor.

Every 12 months (yearly) change smoke alarms batteries.

If the smoke alarms has lead or alkaline batteries change them every 12 months. Our electricians suggest a good time to do this is at the end of day light savings. When you adjust your clocks you should also replace the batteries in your smoke alarms.

It is also a good time to clean the dust off the smoke alarms and to check the smoke alarm is still in date. The most important thing to check is if the your smoke alarms works. The end of day light savings is the NSW Fire Brigades adopted reminder that it is the time of year to check smoke alarms.

Every 10 years smoke alarms need to be replaced.

Replace all smoke alarms with the new 10-year lithium powered smoke alarms. They only need to be changed every 10 years, or earlier if specified by the manufacturer.

Smoke alarms and the law

NSW Fire have the law on their website. It says you must have a working smoke alarms in your home. Working smoke alarms means that the battery is fresh and the alarm is less than 10 years old and it works. Even the alarm is hard wired, the 9 Volt battery has lead or alkaline batteries they should be changed every 12 months.

We believe this message is very important, there are too many house fires every year in Australia, especially during the winter months, so please check to make sure yours works.

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK!

If you have any trouble reaching or opening your smoke alarm get someone to help or give us a call, we are happy to help you out.

Keeping you and your family safe by having working smoke alarms

Your nose won’t wake you up during a fire. When we sleep our sense of smell shuts off and smoke from a house fire is toxic and can send you into an even deeper sleep.

We hear it every year, but it really is important. It’s a simple thing and you might think I will get to that later, we have heard this before. Install the new 9 volt battery in your smoke alarm. Buy good quality batteries and put it in the smoke alarms as soon as you can.

South Coast Electrical Solutions in Batemans Bay are dedicated to keeping you and your family safe.

For more information on smoke alarm read our BLOG

If you would like to talk to one of our licensed electricians in Batemans Bay about replacing your smoke alarms, give us a call today.

Our electricians service the following areas:
Batehaven

Batemans Bay

Broulee

Catalina

Denhams Beach

Guerilla Bay
Lilli Pilli

Long Beach

Maloneys Beach

Malua Bay

Mossy Point
Nelligen

Rosedale

Sunshine Bay

Surf Beach

Surfside

Tomakin
March 19, 2018
Christmas light safety tips for your home.
Tips to be safe when you put up Christmas Lights

Tips to be safe when you put up Christmas Lights. It’s that time of the year when Christmas lights light up our homes both inside and out. During this time it’s important to remember to be electrically safe when putting up the lights and decorations (and taking them down).

Christmas light safety tips for you and your home.

Below are some simple electrical safety guidelines and tips that should be followed to help keep you and your family electrically safe this Christmas.

South Coast Electrical Solutions urges everyone installing Christmas lights to use common sense with any electrical equipment you use. If you are not experience or not sure, contact a licensed electrician

What to check when buying new Christmas lights.

As with all electrical products, Christmas lights must meet Australian Safety standards and are required to have an Australian certificate of approval.
- Beware of buying Christmas lights over the internet from overseas,
- Always buy Australian compliant Christmas lights
- If you are not sure what to look for NSW Fair Trading website has information
- Buy your Christmas lights from a reputable dealer who will know the electrical safety requirements for selling Christmas lights in Australia
- Outdoor Christmas lights will have an IP rating (e.g. IPX3, IP23, IP44), this number shows how weatherproof the light is – the higher the numbers, the better the weatherproof rating. Outdoor equipment must have at rating of least IP23. It’s not safe to use indoor lights outdoors as they don’t have the additional weatherproof ratings
- Use extra-low voltage outside, such as LED lights. Selecting energy-efficiency Christmas lights will significantly reduce your power bill
- Use solar Christmas lights if you can – it’s safer for you and better for the environment
A few checks before you put up your Christmas lights
Inspect your Christmas lights for any signs of wear and check there is no damage to the electrical wires

It is not advisable to use sets of Christmas lights that have any broken globes or missing globes
Do not alter or modify lights

Use indoor lights indoors and outdoors light outdoors

Make electrical safety a high priority

Make sure all the globes are fitted correctly
Are you installing Christmas lights outdoors?
Only use outdoor lights for outside your home

Make sure plugs are fully inserted into sockets and are tight fitting

Check the manufactures safety instructions before you put them up

Do not install lights near any flammable materials

Do not overload power boards or power points

If you intend to put the lights on the outside of your property, make sure that they are manufactured for outdoor use

Do not attach Christmas lights to overhead powerlines that connect to your house

Be aware of the location and height of powerlines when carrying ladders and setting up the Christmas lights

Always unwind extension leads to avoid possible overheating
Wear non slip footwear and use safety equipment and common sense when using ladders

Do not install, adjust or move Christmas lights while they are on or plugged in

Test your safety switches in your switchboard and make sure they are working

Don’t wrap Christmas lights around anything sharp that may damage the wires

Don’t put Christmas lighting around swimming pools or wet areas

Make sure the connections for outdoor use are weatherproof

Avoid using double adaptors or piggy back plugs

If you use power boards, make sure they are fitted with over-load protection
Putting up indoor Christmas lights
Lights suitable for indoor use should only be used indoors, this will be written on the packaging or on the lights near the plug

Test your safety switch and smoke alarms before setting up your lights

Keep the lights away from Children

Turn off your Christmas lights before you go to bed

Do not leave your Christmas lights on if you are not at home
Everyday Safety tips for putting up Christmas lights
- Always unplug the Christmas lights before you go to bed or leaving your house
- Make sure your smoke alarms are in working order
- Ensure extension cords or the cords on the Christmas lights don’t become a trip hazard or become damaged
- Switch off the power before plugging in or pulling out the plug and hold the plug not the cord
- Avoid using double adaptors
- Always unwind extension leads to avoid possible overheating
- Check the Government website http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/952401 for any safety recalls on Christmas lights
What to do with the Christmas lights after the Christmas Season

Packing away Christmas lights can be a tiring job, especially as the January weather is usually the hottest time of year. If you look after your Christmas lights you will get a longer life from them. Christmas lights are designed for temporary use, leaving the lights up for extended periods will deteriorate the life of the lights and also create a higher risk of electrical hazard.

Use correct safety equipment when setting up Christmas Lights
Unplug the Christmas lights before you start taking them down

Store and pack Christmas lights in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions

Remove batteries from solar Christmas lights and store them separately

Always store Christmas lights so that the wires and lights do not become damaged
As you take down the lights, inspect the lights and wiring and dispose of any that are damaged

Store the lights in the original packaging

Keep the sets together, the lights with the correct power transformer

Store Christmas lights in a dry area
To get any further advise on safe Christmas lighting contact a licensed electrician. South Coast Electrical Solutions would like you to stay safe this Christmas season and have a Merry Christmas.
December 11, 2017
Smoke Alarm installation and the NSW Law
Smoke Alarm installation and the NSW Law requires all properties to have working smoke alarms installed in Properties. Request to have your smoke alarms replaced, services or installed from your Batemans Bay smoke alarm specialist.

South Coast Electrical Solutions can service, maintain and replace the smoke alarms in your property. It’s more than changing a battery and testing the alarm. You need to know that it will work in a fire.

South Coast Electrical Solutions have licensed electricians to install hard-wired. We only use photoelectric Australian Standard products and comply with all NSW legislation when installing.

South Coast Electrical Solutions can service, maintain and replace the smoke alarms in your Batemans Bay property. It’s more than changing a battery and testing the alarm. You need to know that it will work in a fire.

What will the electrician check on the smoke alarm service?
Ensure the correct quantity and quality of the smoke alarms are installed

Check that they are correctly positioned

Replace and install top quality photoelectric Australian Standard smoke alarms and batteries

Reposition alarms if required
Ensure ventilation holes are clear of dust and insects

Check the expiry date of each alarm

Do a full function test of each alarm, which includes artificial smoke test

Issue a certificate of compliance for your property
How to choose a smoke alarm?

Our electricians only recommend photoelectric smoke alarms. Ionisation smoke alarms are not recommended by our electricians as they are not as effective at detecting fires that are slow smouldering. Slow smouldering fires that are undetected are generally the leading cause of deaths due to fires in homes. Photoelectric sensors detect the types of fires that smoulder for hours before the flames.

Smoke alarm maintenance for your property in Batemans Bay

At South Coast Electrical Solutions we specialise in smoke alarm maintenance. We know it is the best way to protect homes and lives. Leave the maintenance of your smoke alarms to a licensed electrician. Certain checks are completed when you have a professional look after the compliance of your smoke alarms. Our licensed electricians can install and replace hard-wired smoke alarms.

How long does a smoke alarm last?

Hard wired smoke alarms are only designed to last for ten years. If you alarm is over 10 years old your alarm will need to be replaced. Call and make an appointment today to have your smoke alarms checked, maintained and replaced.

Smoke alarm testing for your property in Batemans Bay

Having a working smoke alarm in your home is very important. Take the time to test alarms to make sure they are working properly. A properly functioning smoke detector increases your chance of survival if a fire occurs in your property.

Smoke alarm compliance certificate NSW

South Coast Electrical Solutions are licensed electricians. If your property is in Batemans Bay call us today for an appointment to service and check your smoke alarms and issue you with a compliance certificate. Compliance certificates are required when selling your home, or if your property is rented your Real Estate Agent may request this.

Hard wired smoke alarm VS battery operated smoke alarm

South Coast Electrical Solutions recommends wherever possible, hard-wired and interconnected smoke alarms to be installed. Hard-wired smoke alarms receive a consistent 240-volt power supply. They have a battery installed so that if there is a power outage, they will still work. We have licensed electricians to install hard-wired smoke alarms. We only use photoelectric Australian Standard products and comply with all NSW legislation when installing.

Battery powered smoke alarms operate only on the power they receive from the battery. As not all batteries are the same (some batteries are of lower quality than others therefor will not last as long). If you choose battery operated smoke alarms in your property, make sure you choose good quality 9 volt batteries. 10 year lithium batteries are recommended as they last as long as the smoke alarm. If you choose Lead or alkaline batteries they will need to be replace yearly.

Smoke alarm beeping or chirping

What is causing my smoke alarm to beep or chirp? There is a few reasons that your smoke alarm might be beeping or chirping
1. The smoke alarm will chirp at regular interval, about once every minute when the battery is getting low and needs to be replace. The best battery to choose is a 9 volt lithium battery, they are long-lasting and engineered to deliver the power you need for the smoke alarm.
2. Another reason the smoke alarm may chirp is if the battery is loose or improperly installed.
3. The smoke alarm cover may be dirty. If dust and insects are in the sensing chamber it can cause the alarm to chirp. It is good practice to clean your smoke alarms when you change the battery. See cleaning the smoke alarm tips for cleaning information.
4. Reset the alarm. Check your manufactures instructions.
5. If it is still chirping or beeping, request a service from your local electrician
The best hard wired smoke alarms

South Coast Electrical Solutions only recommend photoelectric smoke alarms. Ionisation smoke alarms are not recommended by us as they are not as effective at detecting fires that are slow smouldering. Slow smouldering fires that are undetected are generally the leading cause of deaths due to fires in homes. Photoelectric sensors detect the types of fires that smoulder for hours before the flames.

Hard wired smoke alarms going off for no reason?

Here is a few reasons that your smoke alarm is sounding when no smoke is present.
- If you alarm is over 10 years old your alarm needs to be replaced. Smoke alarms only have a life of 10 years. The date can be found on the back of the alarm
- Your alarm may need to be cleaned, see our cleaning tips.
- Your alarm may need to be reset. Check your manufactures instructions or call for a service from South Coast Electrical Solutions.
Smoke alarm cleaning tips

If your smoke alarm is hard-wired (connected to 240 volts) we do not recommend that you take it down, always have a licensed electrician service your alarm. If your alarm is a 9 volt battery alarm, remove the alarm from the wall or ceiling and hold the unit on its side. There is a gap between the front cover and the back plate. Use your vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool and suck all around the gap area. Make sure you clean the sensor thoroughly. Check the expiry date of the unit while you have it down. Reset the alarm and test the unit.

NSW smoke alarm legislation for homeowners.

NSW legislation stipulates that smoke alarms must be installed on every level of your home.

This includes owner occupied homes, rental properties, relocatable homes, caravans and camper-vans or any other residential building where people sleep. To read more about where smoke alarms must be installed, information in tenanted properties, smoke alarm information from the Department of Fair Trading or you can click on this link to our smoke alarm service page.

Our electricians are located in Batemans Bay and service the following areas:
Batehaven

Batemans Bay

Broulee

Catalina

Denhams Beach

Guerilla Bay
Lilli Pilli

Long Beach

Maloneys Beach

Malua Bay

Mogo

Mossy Point
Nelligen

Rosedale

Sunshine Bay

Surf Beach

Surfside

Tomakin
November 9, 2017
10-Year Rule: When Your Smoke Alarms Must Be Replaced in NSW
Smoke Alarms Expire — Is Yours Over 10 Years Old?

Many homeowners don’t realise that smoke alarms have a maximum lifespan of 10 years.

If your alarm is:
- More than 10 years old
- Yellowing or brittle
- Chirping intermittently
- Frequently false alarming
…it’s time to replace it. Have our electricians in Batemans Bay replace your faulty smoke alarms.

Every home in New South Wales must have working smoke alarms installed

It’s the law that every home in New South Wales must have working smoke alarms installed. But simply having an alarm on the ceiling isn’t enough.

Smoke alarm protection

Smoke alarms are a critical part of your home’s fire escape plan. In the event of a fire, they provide early warning so you and your family can get out quickly and safely.

At night, when we are asleep, we have no sense of smell, which makes house fires especially dangerous. Sadly, this is something we still see far too often in the news.

The real question is: Are your smoke alarms installed correctly, interconnected, and still within date? If you are located in the Batemans Bay area, call us today to have our electricians check your smoke alarms.

Even if it still beeps when tested, an older alarm may not respond effectively in a real fire. Sensors degrade over time, dust builds up internally, and components fail.
- If your smoke alarms are more than 10 years old
- If your smoke alarms are Yellowing or brittle
- If your smoke alarms are Chirping intermittently
- If your smoke alarms are Frequently false alarming
…it’s time to replace them. Have our electricians in Batemans Bay replace your faulty smoke alarms.

Are Your Smoke Alarms Installed in the Right Locations?

Correct placement is just as important as having an alarm.

Under NSW legislation, smoke alarms must be installed:
- On each level of the home
- In hallways outside bedrooms
- Or in suitable locations if no hallway exists
Poor positioning, such as too close to kitchens, bathrooms, or air-conditioning vents, can cause nuisance alarms or delayed detection.

As licensed electricians in Batemans Bay, we regularly find alarms:
- Installed too close to walls
- Installed in dead air spaces
- Not installed in required locations
- Not compliant with current standards
Incorrect installation can reduce early warning time. Call us today to check your smoke alarms are compliant and change them if required.

Interconnected Alarms:

Why One Alarm Isn’t Enough, the safest homes use interconnected smoke alarms.

When one alarm detects smoke, all alarms in the home sound at the same time.

This is especially important in:
- Larger homes
- Double-storey properties
- Homes where bedrooms are far from living areas
Early warning across the entire home can make a life-saving difference. Make sure your homes alarms are compliant, call our electricians in Batemans Bay today for all your smoke alarm service needs.

Photoelectric vs Ionisation — What’s Best?

There are two main types of smoke alarms used in homes:
- Photoelectric alarms
- Ionisation alarms
Both types can meet Australian Standards, but Fire and Rescue NSW recommends photoelectric smoke alarms, hard-wired and interconnected, for residential properties.

Photoelectric alarms are generally better at detecting slow, smouldering fires — the type most common in homes.

South Coast Electrical Solutions recommend and install Photoelectric smoke alarms.

Smoke Alarm Maintenance Is More Than Just Changing the Battery

Testing once a month is recommended — but proper maintenance involves more than pressing the test button.

Professional servicing includes:
- Cleaning dust and insect debris from vents
- Checking expiry dates
- Verifying correct positioning
- Testing full alarm function
- Ensuring compliance with current NSW legislation
And when replacing batteries, always use a quality branded battery to ensure reliability.

If you need assistance changing your smoke alarms batteries in Batemans Bay call our electricians today for a smoke alarm check and service.

Batemans Bay Homeowners — We Can Help

At South Coast Electrical Solutions, we are licensed electricians based in Batemans Bay. We specialise in ensuring homes are smoke alarm compliant, safe, and properly protected.

We:
- Install compliant, quality smoke alarms
- Ensure correct quantity and positioning
- Upgrade to interconnected systems
- Replace expired units
- Reposition incorrectly installed alarms
- Fully test and service existing alarms
If you’re unsure about your smoke alarms, we can inspect your property and provide clear advice.

“Book your smoke alarm safety check — call us today”

Electricians to call for your smoke alarm replacement, servicing needs in the following Batemans Bay Suburbs:
Batehaven

Batemans Bay

Broulee

Catalina

Denhams Beach

Guerilla Bay
Lilli Pilli

Long Beach

Maloneys Beach

Malua Bay

Mossy Point
Nelligen

Rosedale

Sunshine Bay

Surf Beach

Surfside

Tomakin
September 1, 2015