[TripleHotFudge]

I just bought 2 Kidde Fire-Alarms to be installed in my home. They're very light. I just wondered whether or not it mattered at all whether I needed to find a stud for the 2 screws used to hold the plate when I install the base connector for these alarms. Or am I making too big a deal of this?

 

[ktownskier]

Ummm, what do the directions say?

You read the directions didn't you?

And you found out what all the parts are for?

Including those plastic thingies (shields or anchors) that are usually packed with the screws provided?

Just take an awl or small phillips screwdriver, and using the baseplate, or the layout diagram included with the instructions, and place it where the instructions tell you to put the smoke. Then, using the awl or screwdriver, push in to create a hole that is smaller then the anchor and tap in the anchor.

Screw in the baseplate using the screws provided and put in the battery, if it is not already in the smokie and then put the smoke detector in place.

Didn't mean to be quite so snarky, but, it is in the instructions.

 

[TripleHotFudge]

Thank You. It probably is in the instructions. I haven't gotten that far yet. It was just something I was wondering about in advance. I guess I'm getting ahead of myself a bit. I didn't realize that the smoke alarm may come with those drywall anchors. That would be nice. So, if that's the case I could do it either way. Using a stud finder or using the drywall anchors.

 

[ktownskier]

I just did a quick check, even the cheapest $5 model comes with the anchors and screws.

If you haven't installed them yet, and you live in a multilevel home, consider getting the smoke detectors that can be connected together wirelessly.

Or, if you don't need that, get the ones that are 10 year units, after 10 years you need to replace them and in these models, the battery lasts 10 years.

 

[TripleHotFudge]

Good suggestions. I looked briefly for a Kidde dual-sensor smoke/fire alarm with a 10-year battery. I couldn't find one. If they had this it would be all the features I want in one.

 

[AllanJ]

Those battery powered alarms are light enough that they can go in the middle of a drywall panel, i.e. without a nearby stud.

 

[brownSys]

Smoke alarms all come with the plastic anchors, and there's really no need for a stud because they are light. However, when you are mounting anything it is almost always preferable to get a stud so long as it is reasonable to do so.

Why? Greater stability and those plastic anchors end up creating a larger hole. If the item anchored gets bumped frequently the hole becomes larger. If the anchor fails, much larger. Smaller holes are easier to patch when you go back to paint/remodel/ect.