Smoke Alarm & CO Detector
Replacement — London, Ontario

As of January 1, 2026, Ontario requires a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey containing a sleeping area, in all homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. This applies to all residential properties — owned and rented. Landlords must ensure alarms are installed and maintained. Fines range up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations.

Under the Ontario Fire Code, smoke alarms must be installed on every storey of a dwelling and outside every sleeping area. A two-storey home with a basement requires a minimum of three alarms — one per floor — plus any additional units outside sleeping areas. Alarms must be ceiling-mounted or high on a wall, away from bathrooms and kitchen vents.

The landlord is responsible for installing and maintaining smoke and CO alarms in all rental units under the Ontario Fire Code. Tenants are responsible for not tampering with or removing alarms, and for reporting any malfunction to the landlord. Fines for landlord non-compliance can reach $50,000 — this is not a cost you can pass to your tenant through a lease clause.

Smoke alarms must be replaced every 10 years from the manufacture date printed on the back of the unit. This is an Ontario Fire Code requirement — not just a manufacturer recommendation. An alarm that still beeps when tested but is past its manufacture date is legally non-compliant and must be replaced. Check the back of every unit in your home.

A smoke alarm detects combustion particles from fires. A carbon monoxide detector senses CO gas from incomplete combustion — produced by gas furnaces, fireplaces, gas stoves, and vehicles in attached garages. CO is colourless and odourless, making a dedicated detector essential. Combination units detect both and are the most practical option for most Ontario homes.

Yes. Ontario law requires a working smoke alarm on every storey of a dwelling, including the basement. Additionally, an alarm must be installed outside every sleeping area. A two-storey home with a basement and bedrooms on both floors needs a minimum of three alarms — more if sleeping areas are spread across multiple locations on the same floor.

Battery-operated smoke alarms can be replaced yourself. However, interconnected alarms — required in homes built or substantially renovated after January 1, 2014 — require hardwiring by a licensed electrician. London Fire Protection coordinates the full replacement including a licensed electrician, so you don't need to hire separately. You also get correct placement and compliance documentation for landlords and rental licence requirements. Most residential replacements take under an hour.

A combination unit detects both smoke and carbon monoxide in a single device. It meets both the smoke alarm requirement and the 2026 CO alarm requirement in one visit. London Fire Protection supplies and replaces with the Kidde 21033116 (interconnected) and 21031518 (battery) combination units — both ULC-listed and Ontario Fire Code compliant. For most homes, combo units are the most cost-effective solution.

If your home was built or substantially renovated after January 1, 2015, the Ontario Building Code requires smoke alarms with a visual signaling component (strobe light) for hearing-impaired safety. The strobe must conform to NFPA 72 and produce a minimum of 175 candelas in sleeping rooms.

London Fire Protection supplies and installs 3-in-1 LED strobe combination smoke/CO alarms that meet this requirement — interconnected, with a built-in strobe and full smoke and CO detection in one unit. Contact us for a quote.