How much should an electrician charge to replace a household hardwired fire alarm?

[DCal430]

I have a hardwired fire alarm that is broken, and I purchased a replacement. The problem is I don't know how to disconnect the old one from house electric system, nor do I know how to connect the new one to the electric system. The only thing I know is I need to turn off the power before I do anything. So how much I pay for an electrician to do it for me?

 

[olds]

Whatever their minimum is. $100ish

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Get a cheap line tester and arm yourself with the wiring diagram. Here's your chance to learn something useful and save a $100.

 

[DCal430]

Whatever their minimum is. $100ish

$100 for a $20 fire alarm. D:

I need to find out how to do it my self.

 

[skull]

$100 for a $20 fire alarm. D:

I need to find out how to do it my self.

Having a truck, insurance(auto and liability for your house), tools etc. isn't cheap.

 

[Nebor]

Having a truck, insurance(auto and liability for your house), tools etc. isn't cheap.

And a license.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Dude... Take the two screws out of the alarm, pull ti down from the ceiling. Look at the wire config. It will be color coded (usually white, black, ground). Wire the new one the same as the old one. It's pretty simple, really.

Otherwise, yeah. It'll take the electrician 5min so you'll be looking at the minimum charge, usually an hour. So $100 or so.

 

[0roo0roo]

And a license.

and transport, to and from, time to setup, time to work, 2-3 hour chunk of work time is thus gone. once u add the rest of the costs before the wage even begins....nothing under 100 makes sense.

 

[NL5]

And a license.

and transport, to and from, time to setup, time to work, 2-3 hour chunk of work time is thus gone. once u add the rest of the costs before the wage even begins....nothing under 100 makes sense.

Yep, $100 ain't bad when you think about all that goes into that call. Should be a SIMPLE fix though, so it shouldn't be more than the minimum, as others have said.

Anybody with any handy'ness should be able to do it themselves though....

 

[TwiceOver]

What kind of wired alarm? My kidde ones have a quick connect wiring harness.

 

[DCal430]

Will try to see if I can do it my self tomorrow.

 

[olds]

Will try to see if I can do it my self tomorrow.

You are going to be surprised by how easy it is.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

You are going to be surprised by how easy it is.

Yup. Just don't forget to throw the breaker before you start. And remember to turn the breaker back on when you're done.

 

[911paramedic]

Yup. Just don't forget to throw the breaker before you start. And remember to turn the breaker back on when you're done.

Is your medical co-pay more than $100?

This really is one of the easiest jobs there is to do when it comes to electrical work. Pop the cover off, look for a small rectangular object with wires leading from one end. Remove those wires and replace the rectangular object with a new one. It should say 9V on it somewhere.

EDIT: Yeah, before people jump on this I am attempting to be funny. I know it's hardwired.

 

[dullard]

Like others have said, it is a few minutes and almost anyone can do it easilly. Try it. If you can't just bring over a friend/relative who has wired a light or alarm before.

Yup. Just don't forget to throw the breaker before you start. And remember to turn the breaker back on when you're done.

Are fire alarms on a breaker? I honestly don't know the answer, but it seems pretty stupid to have a critical item like an alarm on a breaker.

 

[AlienCraft]

One million dollars

 

[skyking]

ours has a pigtail on it that could not shock you unless you tongued it
take it down and replace with like unit, no wiring necessary.

 

[BoomerD]

Like others have said, it is a few minutes and almost anyone can do it easilly. Try it. If you can't just bring over a friend/relative who has wired a light or alarm before.

Are fire alarms on a breaker? I honestly don't know the answer, but it seems pretty stupid to have a critical item like an alarm on a breaker.

Ummm...throw the main breaker for the entire house...

 

[DCal430]

The alarms have backup power too if the power is cut.

 

[Greenman]

In newer homes, the smoke alarms will be tied together. In the box the alarm is mounted to you will find a black, white, green or bare and red wire. If the box in your ceiling doesn't have a red wire, put a wire not on the red coming out of the alarm.

 

[dullard]

Ummm...throw the main breaker for the entire house...

Sure you could do that, but there are many places with alarms without windows (basement for example). So you have to fumble in near darkness, set up flashlights, reprogram everything in the house (microwave clock), all for a non-issue of measly 110V overhead. Unless he is a complete moron, he won't touch both wires and even then he'll fall and not be killed by the electricity.

Shutting off the house main just seems major overkill.

One wire exposed at a time and you'll do just fine.

 

[Greenman]

Like others have said, it is a few minutes and almost anyone can do it easilly. Try it. If you can't just bring over a friend/relative who has wired a light or alarm before.

Are fire alarms on a breaker? I honestly don't know the answer, but it seems pretty stupid to have a critical item like an alarm on a breaker.

Every circuit in a house is on a breaker, there are no exceptions.

 

[BoomerD]

Sure you could do that, but there are many places with alarms without windows (basement for example). So you have to fumble in near darkness, set up flashlights, reprogram everything in the house (microwave clock), all for a non-issue of measly 110V overhead. Unless he is a complete moron, he won't touch both wires and even then he'll fall and not be killed by the electricity.

Shutting off the house main just seems major overkill.

One wire exposed at a time and you'll do just fine.

Personally, I agree, and would probably wire it in hot if I were doing it...
That was in response to:

Are fire alarms on a breaker? I honestly don't know the answer, but it seems pretty stupid to have a critical item like an alarm on a breaker.

 

[olds]

Well?

 

[D1gger]

I think the OP passed out from dehydration and pain from a dry-socket and has bled to death.