Yes — Done’s licensed electricians install smart smoke detectors, including hardwired interconnected units and combination smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Smart smoke detectors go beyond basic alarms: they send alerts to your phone when triggered, can identify the location of the alarm in a multi-detector system, and integrate with other smart home devices to take automatic action — like unlocking doors, turning on lights, or silencing HVAC systems — when smoke is detected.

Hardwired vs. Battery-Only Smart Detectors

Smart smoke detectors come in two main configurations. Battery-only units like the Nest Protect can be installed anywhere without wiring — you mount them and connect them to your Wi-Fi. The tradeoff is battery maintenance and the fact that they’re not interconnected through your home’s wiring. When one triggers, it signals others wirelessly, which works well in most cases but depends on Wi-Fi reliability and battery health.

Hardwired smart detectors connect to a 120V circuit with a battery backup. They’re interconnected through the home’s wiring — when one alarm triggers, all of them sound simultaneously, which is the standard Colorado code requires for new construction and most renovation work. Hardwired units are more reliable in power outages (battery backup covers them), don’t depend on Wi-Fi for the interconnect function, and are the appropriate choice for homes where smoke detector locations are already wired.

Colorado Smoke Detector Code Requirements

Colorado follows the International Residential Code (IRC) for smoke detector placement. The code requires detectors inside every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area (in the hallway), and on every level of the home including the basement. In new construction and major renovations, detectors must be hardwired with battery backup and interconnected. Colorado also requires carbon monoxide detectors in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages — which describes the majority of Denver-area homes, given that most have a furnace, water heater, or gas range.

Combination smoke/CO detectors satisfy both requirements with one device and are a practical choice during an upgrade. Done installs combination hardwired units that meet Colorado code and add smart functionality — phone alerts, location identification in the app, and integration with platforms like Google Home or Amazon Alexa.

Why Carbon Monoxide Detection Matters in Colorado

Colorado has a higher incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning than the national average, in part because of the prevalence of gas appliances and the tendency for homes to be tightly sealed during cold Front Range winters. Furnaces, water heaters, gas ranges, fireplaces, and attached garages are all potential CO sources. At Denver’s altitude, a furnace that’s slightly out of adjustment produces more incomplete combustion than the same unit at sea level, which can increase CO output. A properly placed CO detector — particularly near sleeping areas and on levels with gas appliances — is a life-safety device, not a luxury upgrade.

Smart Features Worth Knowing About

  • Mobile alerts: Get a notification on your phone if an alarm triggers while you’re away from home — allowing you to call 911 even if no one is inside
  • Location identification: Smart interconnected systems identify which detector triggered — “smoke detected in master bedroom” — rather than just sounding all alarms with no indication of where to look
  • Self-testing: Many smart detectors run automatic diagnostics and alert you when a sensor is aging or a battery is low
  • Hush function: Silence a nuisance alarm from your phone rather than fanning the detector with a towel
  • Smart home integration: Trigger lights to turn on, HVAC to shut off, or a smart lock to unlock when an alarm fires

Replacing Aging Detectors

Smoke detectors have a manufacturer-recommended replacement age of 10 years. CO detectors are typically rated for 5 to 7 years. If your detectors are chirping randomly, failing the test button, or simply old, a smart detector upgrade is the right time to replace them — you get current technology and reset the replacement clock. Done can assess your existing wiring during the visit and confirm that the interconnect wiring between your existing hardwired detectors is functioning correctly before installing new units.

Visit our smart home and safety electrical page to learn more about smart detector options, or call Done to schedule an installation. If your project also involves other smart home upgrades, our electrical installations team can handle multiple items in one visit.