Prime Members: X-Sense XS01-WX Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm Expired

There are a lot of people who recommend photoelectric (only) smoke detectors. The problem with ionization detectors is they cause a lot of nuisance alarms - and that results in people disconnecting them - either removing batteries from detectors that aren't hard wired, or doing that plus disconnecting hard wired ones.
Here's one clear explanation of the issue: structuretech.com/smoke-alarms-deadly-differences/ (This has a few links to more info at the end of the article.)
https://structuretech.com/wp-cont...-03_11.pdf
http://www.consumerreports.org/ho...106391645/

You could also have mostly photoelectric, but put one or two ionization (or dual) alarms in places where they're not likely to cause nuisance alarms (moisture/smoke in kitchen, and bathroom moisture (in a hallway near the bathroom) can cause the nuisance alarms). The problem with this is that if you have hard-wired alarms, you need to have all the same alarms connected to that system, because having different ones connected in the system can cause their own problems (including nuisance alarms). A way around this is to put photoelectric-only in the system, but buy a battery operated ionization to have outside the system.

Manufacturers are supposed to be developing better detectors that reduce nuisance alarms (was first supposed to be implemented in 2019, but that got delayed; as I understand it, that will involve a different technology so these (when available) will not be labeled as photoelectric and/or ionization). Underwriters Limited developed a new standard, but implementation of that has be postponed several times already. There was a Kidde that initially claimed to meet this newest UL 217 standard (the new standard is UL 217, 8th edition; currently, smoke alarms being sold must meet the 7th edition), but Kidde stopped making that claim, and has no detectors currently that meet it. It seems manufacturers are struggling to meet this standard. (There is a less common manufacturer or two that claimed to meet the newer standard but when I looked at reviews a while ago, I wasn't convinced they were a quality product). Brief overview of 8th edition standard: http://incompliancemag.com/eighth...oke-alarm/, http://www.intertek.com/life-safe...h-edition/

===
I personally don't like the ones with the (supposedly) 10 year lithium battery - if you look at reviews, those batteries fail quite often in under 10 years - and I had this happen with some I purchased. I guess in some places, you can't buy anything else legally, but I'm luckily not in one of those places. Keep your receipt and the box if you buy these, and read the warranty, then try to make a warranty claim if the batter/detector fails.

As a note, manufacturers tend to be very misleading about which edition of the UL 217 standard they meet - often, they just say they meet UL 217 (but not which edition). To make that claim, they need to meet the standard in effect at time of manufacture, but smoke detectors that meet earlier standards can continue to be sold after the current standard is updated, so pay attention to the date of manufacture.

If you live in an area with Menards, they sell a very reasonably priced Kidde photoelectric-only smoke alarm, a little under $15. Ionization alarms tend to be cheaper than photoelectric or dual.

I personally purchase CO detectors as separate items. The digital Nighthawk, that plugs in AND operates with a battery, is my choice. It keeps track of any CO levels over 10 PPM - you can press the peak level button to see that (and reset it to zero. It won't alarm unless the level goes over 50 PPM for a certain amount of time. If you check the peak level every once in a while you may detect a problem problem that isn't yet serious enough to cause an alarm (note that natural gas stoves if not working properly or if they're not vented can generate these lower levels of CO in your house - that can cause health issues and mild headaches, especially for more sensitive or older people or people with respiratory issues.).

Unfortunately, even Underwriter Limited doesn't have really clear info about the new standard and when it's now supposed to be implemented easily found on its website - here are a few links:
ww.ul.com/news/smoke-alarms-and-smoke-detectors-new-and-revised-requirements
http://www.ul.com/news/news-brief...ufacturers

Amazon prices on smoke detectors & CO detectors may go down around Black Friday/cyber monday sales.

Note that you should carefully vacuum around smoke and CO detectors at least a few times annually - maybe even monthly. Dust and bugs and spider webs can all lead to nuisance alarms or failure.

Keep your receipt and info about the warranty - you can make a warranty claim if they fail before they're supposed to. If date of manufacturer is stamped on them (I believe that is now required), you can probably make a warranty claim even if you don't have proof of when you purchased it - but they'll probably start counting the time from date of manufacture rather than date of purchase. You'll likely get a replacement unit, not money refunded.

==
In case anyone has one of these (not-so-common) brands: CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using GLBSUNION and CUZMAK Digital Display Carbon Monoxide Detectors (does not detect CO) - were sold on Amazon; recall from March 2023 http://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News...Amazon-com