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    Maryland 10-Year Rule

    Free Smoke Alarm Safety Check in Baltimore, MD

    Your smoke alarm has an expiration date. Every alarm is stamped with a manufacture date, and ten years from that date it has to go — working or not. Most Baltimore homes are running alarms that are already past it.

    Book my free safety check (443) 529-4541
    Woman-OwnedLicensed & InsuredBaltimore & DMVFree Batteries

    How to check yours in 60 seconds

    1. 1. Twist the alarm off its ceiling bracket.
    2. 2. Flip it over — the manufacture date is printed on the back label.
    3. 3. Add 10 years. If that date has passed, the alarm is expired and needs to be replaced.
    4. 4. No date printed at all? It's old enough that it needs replacing.
    A ten-year-old alarm still chirps and still tests fine. The sensor inside is what wears out — that's why the code sets a hard replacement date instead of a "test it monthly" rule.
    The 10-point check
    • Test every alarm in the home
    • Check the manufacture date on each unit
    • Replace 9V batteries — free
    • Verify placement meets Maryland code
    • Check interconnect between hardwired units
    • Confirm alarms outside every sleeping area
    • Check CO alarm coverage
    • Inspect the panel and breakers while we're there
    • Note any missing GFCI/AFCI protection
    • Leave a written safety report
    About 30–45 minutes. No charge.

    If something needs replacing

    Safety Check
    Free
    Testing, dates, batteries, written report.
    Single Alarm Replace
    Flat rate
    Hardwired or sealed 10-year unit, quoted upfront.
    Whole-Home Refresh
    Bundled
    Every alarm swapped for 10-year sealed lithium units.

    Flat-rate pricing, quoted before we start. No trip fee on the safety check.

    Questions

    Do smoke alarms really expire?

    Yes. Every smoke alarm has a manufacture date printed on the back. Alarms must be replaced 10 years from that date — the sensor degrades whether the alarm has ever gone off or not.

    What does Maryland law require?

    Maryland's smoke alarm law requires sealed 10-year battery alarms in place of older removable-battery units, and alarms on every level of the home and outside every sleeping area. Hardwired systems installed in newer homes must be maintained and replaced at the end of their life.

    Is the safety check actually free?

    Yes. We test your alarms, check the dates, and put fresh 9V batteries in the ones that take them at no charge. If an alarm is past its date, we'll quote you a replacement — no pressure.

    How long does it take?

    About 30 to 45 minutes for a typical home.

    Let's check your alarms

    Free, about 45 minutes, and you'll know exactly where your home stands.

    Book my free safety check