Choosing replacement mains powered smoke/CO alarms

[alan333]

Hi,

I'm looking for some guidance on choosing replacements for my two existing Firex L240C mains powered linked ionisation smoke alarms, installed around year 2000. Although they work fine, they've gone yellow and it's time to change them. One is in the downstairs hallway, the other in the upstairs hallway, which also has a carbon monoxide sensor connected to my home alarm. The CO sensor is probably around the same age and I don't have a CO test kit to test it (although I see I can buy one for about £15). Edit...make that £8.

It seems the equivalent replacement is the Kidde Firex KF10. However, perhaps technology has moved on somewhat and I could choose optical or ionisation sensors, and perhaps could/should combine the CO sensor.

Any suggestions as to whether the KF10 is any good etc, or other recommendations?
Better to have optical or ionisation (or one of each [if it's still possible to link them])?
Is it a worthwhile idea to have more expensive combined smoke and CO ones instead?

Any help appreciated

 

[flameport]

and it's time to change them.

It was time to change them 8 years ago, such things only have a 10 year lifespan.

Replacement depends on various factors, use this: https://www.aico.co.uk/alarm-selector/
to determine what is required.

Would not recommend Firex either, used to fit a lot of those until 8 or so years ago, and then for reasons unknown many of them started failing (as in beeping continually) after a few weeks/months of installation. Cost a load of wasted time and money replacing the things.
Never had a single Aico one fail.

 

[alan333]

Thanks for the reply and the link
The aico site reckons I should fit alarms everywhere, and that they are all singing and dancing. I think this is a bit overkill for us, but a browse around for 'non-singing/dancing' aico sensors seems to show other ranges similar to what we currently have. Any recommendations for particular ones to have a look at? I don't mind swapping a battery every year or two.
Thanks

 

[alan333]

I've ordered a pair of Aico Ei166e optical alarms. Hopefully that's me for ten years