Old smoke alarms can pose safety risks when they stop functioning properly. We replaced the outdated smoke alarms with new, reliable units, ensuring enhanced safety and compliance with current standards for the residential property.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation in Raleigh, Cary and Apex
Hardwired, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms replaced or added in homes across Raleigh, Cary, Apex and the Triangle, including fixes for chirping and false alarms.
- 4.8★★★★★280 Google reviews
- 2013Serving the Triangle since
- 1-yearwarranty on all work
When to call us
- Your alarms are more than 10 years old (the date is printed on the back)
- An alarm chirps even with a fresh battery
- Alarms go off for no reason, or one goes off and the others don't
- A home inspection or insurance review flagged missing or outdated alarms
- You added bedrooms, finished a basement or have gas appliances with no CO alarm
- An alarm on a high ceiling needs replacing and you can't reach it
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are the cheapest safety equipment in a house, and the most overlooked. Many homes have at least one alarm past its 10-year life, or a mix of brands that don’t talk to each other. We replace them as a set, so the whole house is covered and every alarm sounds together.
What the work involves
Replacing a hardwired set with new interconnected alarms on the existing wiring. Most replacements now have sealed 10-year batteries, so there are no batteries to change.
Adding carbon monoxide protection in homes with a gas furnace, water heater, range, fireplace or attached garage, usually with combination smoke and CO alarms near the bedrooms.
Fixing chirping and false alarms, which usually come from an alarm at the end of its life, the wrong battery, or a wiring problem in a hardwired unit.
Adding alarms in older homes that have only one or two battery units, during a rewire or remodel or on their own.
How we do it
- We check the manufacture date on the back of every alarm, and which ones are hardwired and interconnected.
- We lay out coverage the way current code calls for: an alarm in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level.
- We replace or add alarms and test that they all sound together.
High ceilings are common in newer Triangle homes. We have the ladders to replace alarms 18 to 20 feet up.
In one Raleigh home we installed six new smoke detectors in a single visit.
What affects the cost
- The number of alarms, and smoke-only or combination smoke and CO
- Replacing hardwired alarms on existing wiring, or adding alarms where there’s no wiring
- Ceiling height
- Whether alarms from different brands have to be standardized so they interconnect
Permits
Replacing hardwired alarms like for like usually doesn’t need a permit. Adding hardwired alarms on new wiring generally does, and we pull it. Each town page lists the right office.
Where we do this work
From our office in Cary, we serve homes and businesses across the Triangle, most often in Raleigh, Cary and Apex, and in nearby towns including Durham, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest.
Common questions
How often should smoke detectors be replaced?
Every 10 years, even if they still test fine. The sensor degrades over time. Carbon monoxide alarms last 5 to 10 years depending on the model. Every alarm has a manufacture date on the back, so we check them all and replace the ones that are due.
Why does my smoke detector chirp when the battery is new?
A chirp with a fresh battery usually means the alarm has reached end of life, the battery isn't seated or is the wrong type, or there's a wiring problem in a hardwired unit. In a Holly Springs home it turned out to be aging alarms. We find the cause rather than just swapping batteries again.
Can you replace my hardwired alarms with ones that don't need batteries changed?
Yes. Hardwired alarms with sealed 10-year backup batteries are the usual replacement now. They connect to your existing wiring and talk to each other, so when one sounds they all do, and you don't climb a ladder to change batteries.
Where are smoke and CO alarms required in a home?
Current code calls for a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the house, and carbon monoxide alarms near bedrooms in homes with fuel-burning appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage. We match the layout to your home when we replace or add alarms.
What customers say about our smoke and CO detector work
4.8 on Google from 280 reviews
Your go to when it comes to electrical issues. Trust me. It started with a simple pull of a chain that was “connected” to a smoke alarm. The first round of troubleshooting came up empty. Second round, fresh eyes, found the issue (no offense to the first time folks), fixed that issue.
Third time, same thing happened, not the chain, but the switch. Unplugging a shop vac, because the A/C decided it was time to quit (never ends)…R.E. sends Bobby back. This time he is at a loss as to what made this happen again. He calls for back-up. The Boss comes in.
Did some deep trouble shooting…AHA…of course it’s not even close to where all thought it would be. It was behind that panel, you know, that panel we so proudly flip a switch to reset that “breaker” and voila we did it! We made a light turn back on.
Little do we know that there are a gazillion wires behind this panel of switches. Where if one line, this so called neutral line(?) isn’t connected or wired correctly it creates havoc. Two lines at this #21 breaker.
One line shorter than the other but a smaller piece was added to make it same length so it could be together then to have a crack in that smaller wire. This not good. Things happen over time.
Bobby, his Boss, the two other gentlemen who worked this huge issue which turns out it was rather a small one, they could very well be “heroes”. Because I certainly am grateful for their knowledge. Their patience when I’m asking “how or why” does this happen.
We flip a switch, light goes on … light goes out…when this doesn’t happen sheer terror! Long story short, these folks know their stuff. Recommend them for any job that has to do with red green white black copper neutral wires … thank you.
Barbara A., Cary July 2026
Responded within a few hours and solved both my problems quickly and cheerfully. I had a smoke detector and a hanging light, (both on 16-18 foot ceilings that I couldn’t reach) needing service. Price was reasonable. Will call Roy’s again.
Bob B., Apex March 2026
Always a pleasure dealing with the folks at Roy Electric. I had an exhaust fan replaced, a light fixture replaced and a smoke alarm replaced. Super job done quickly and efficiently. My second experience with RE and very happy both times!
Douglas J. B., Cary January 2026
Recent smoke and CO detector projects in Raleigh, Cary and Apex
Installed 6 new smoke detectors & replaced 2 single pole switches!
Replaced a single pull switch & multiple smoke & smoke carbons throughout the house.
Called out to remove two flush mount lights and one old ceiling fan and to replace with three new customer supplied ceiling fans. Also replaced two old smoke detectors with two new carbon monoxide/ smoke combination detectors.
Need an electrician?
Call or text our office, or send us the details and a photo and we'll follow up to schedule a visit.