Smoke and CO Detector Installation in Hampton Oaks, VA

Are the smoke alarms in Hampton Oaks homes out of date?

In many homes, yes. Census tract 102.11, which covers about two thirds of Hampton Oaks, has a median year built of 1993 (Census ACS). The NFPA says to replace each alarm 10 years after the date printed on its back. A house from 1993 may be on its second or third set, or still on its first.

These are also big homes. About 1,141 of 1,480 homes in the tract have three or more bedrooms (Census ACS, B25041). An alarm goes in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level, so a four bedroom house with a basement can need eight or more. Our smoke detector calculator gives a count for your floor plan.

Hardwired alarms from the 1990s are often linked by a third wire, so one sets off all. New alarms of a different brand may need new plugs or adapters. We replace the whole set together so the link keeps working.

Gas heat, storm generators and CO alarms

About 543 of 1,426 occupied homes in the tract heat with utility gas (Census ACS, B25040). The county's Comprehensive Plan names Columbia Gas of Virginia as Stafford's natural gas supplier. A gas furnace, water heater or range is a reason to have CO alarms.

The CPSC says to put CO alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, and that linked alarms, which all sound when one does, are the better choice. Combination smoke and CO alarms can cover both in the hallway outside the bedrooms.

Long storm outages raise the risk too, because that is when generators come out. After the January 3, 2022 snowstorm, about 60% of Dominion's Stafford customers had no power the next morning (Potomac Local). The CPSC says to run a portable generator outside only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away, and never in a garage.

Virginia alarm rules for Hampton Oaks rentals

About 511 of 1,426 occupied homes in the tract are rented (Census ACS, B25003). Virginia law has rules for them. Under Va. Code 55.1-1220, the landlord gives the tenant a certificate that all smoke alarms are present, inspected and in good working order. Under Va. Code 55.1-1229, a landlord who gets a written request from a tenant installs a CO alarm within 90 days.

We can replace the alarms in a rental between tenants and leave a dated list of each one, which makes the certificate easy to fill in.

On permits: Stafford's FAQ does not name smoke alarms. A plug-in swap on the same wiring is the simplest case, and we confirm it with the Building Division at 540-658-8650. Adding a hardwired alarm where none was before is new wiring, which needs a permit.