Hard-Wired Smoke Detector Cost

[Pestle]

Great scott. Just got the quote back from the electrician and he said $820 to install 4 smoke detectors and an illuminated exit sign.

How much did all of y'all spend?

[jenboo]

Great scott. Just got the quote back from the electrician and he said $820 to install 4 smoke detectors and an illuminated exit sign.

How much did all of y'all spend?

My dad did ours so we paid just for the supplies.

That seems crazy high. I would get a second opinion

[Annalee]

My dad did ours so we paid just for the supplies.

That seems crazy high. I would get a second opinion

Yep, that is a crazy price. My brother installed mine.....no big deal and not very expensive.

[LysesKids]

My house already had 3 hardwired smoke detectors installed when I bought it (2 bdrms & living room); it's a 2013 manufactured home that is certified Energy Star

[Blackcat31]

Great scott. Just got the quote back from the electrician and he said $820 to install 4 smoke detectors and an illuminated exit sign.

How much did all of y'all spend?

Holy cow!!

My DH and I just bought new hard-wired ones for our house. Our old ones were hardwired already but we upgraded to the type where you never have to replace the battery ever (thank goodness...) and we had to buy 8 of them so we bought an "contractor pack" from Home Depot

Similar to these ones (6 of them for $54.00)

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kidde-Hardwire-120-Volt-Inter-Connectable-Smoke-Alarm-with-Battery-Backup-6-Pack-21006373/100179554

My guess is that you are being quoted for the labor more than the actual product....which is understandable as I know electricians and plumbers get upwards to $75-100+ an hour around here.

My city codes however allow home owners to install simple electrical devices on their own and then just have the electrical inspector sign off on the work after it's been installed correctly so that helps home owners save a ton!

[DaveA]

Does your quote have a breakdown of the costs? I'd want to see what he thinks the job will take labor wise and how much he's put down for materials. Depending on the size/ style of your house and where the main panel is it could be he could be counting on an all day job and eating a ton of wire/ conduit.

[Pestle]

Yeah, the estimate is $500 for labor. It's a small ranch house with two bedrooms that are at the far end from the breaker box. The wiring would run through the attic, which has easy access up a staircase. That's fortunate, since the walls are plaster and a ***** to work with.

This electrician had the lower quote when we moved in and he redid the wiring coming into the house and converted two overloaded fuse boxes into a breaker box. He's a nice guy but this is half a month's pay for me with just the three kids.

Gotta spend money to make money. . . can't get the license without hard-wired detectors. Really wishing I had one of those big local families with handy relatives. Going to have to put off having a driveway gate installed for a while now and keep using the temporary, portable gate. The driveway gate is going to require busting through concrete so that's another expense there.

[Blackcat31]

Yeah, the estimate is $500 for labor. It's a small ranch house with two bedrooms that are at the far end from the breaker box. The wiring would run through the attic, which has easy access up a staircase. That's fortunate, since the walls are plaster and a ***** to work with.

This electrician had the lower quote when we moved in and he redid the wiring coming into the house and converted two overloaded fuse boxes into a breaker box. He's a nice guy but this is half a month's pay for me with just the three kids.

Gotta spend money to make money. . . can't get the license without hard-wired detectors. Really wishing I had one of those big local families with handy relatives. Going to have to put off having a driveway gate installed for a while now and keep using the temporary, portable gate. The driveway gate is going to require busting through concrete so that's another expense there.

Check with your area Child Care Aware agency....

Many of them offer start up and safety grants for providers looking to be licensed. Since you are wanting to install something that is a licensing requirement so they may be able help out or direct you in the right direction.

[Pestle]

If Blackcat disappears from the forums, it's definitely not because I hypothetically abducted her and am hypothetically keeping her in my shed as a consultant. Don't worry; I would hypothetically give her my unlimited wifi password and feed her wassail and hard cider to get her through the mild winter. Hypothetically.

[Blackcat31]

If Blackcat disappears from the forums, it's definitely not because I hypothetically abducted her and am hypothetically keeping her in my shed as a consultant. Don't worry; I would hypothetically give her my unlimited wifi password and feed her wassail and hard cider to get her through the mild winter. Hypothetically.

LOL!


My state has a program called Building Quality. It's via the Child Care Aware agency and it supports (educationally AND financially) providers trying to not only become licensed but score high on the QRIS scale. Providers in my state can apply for grants and financial assistance so that they can improve their programs and they can also earn up to $1000 for EACH star level completed. We have 4 levels.

I "think" (just from perusing your state's stars program) that your journey towards licensing has help (financially) available in the same manner.

It says "If you do not qualify for the Star-Quality program this year or want to earn more stars next year, you can get help. TDHS offers grants, technical assistance, and training to help child care providers achieve higher quality and more stars.

For other information that can help you earn stars, contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Center directly"

http://tnstarquality.org/html/star-quality.htm#help