Customer Ratings & Reviews

It is terrible. I bought four and one of them gives me a false alarm.

The ubiquitous and simple smoke alarm has received a major tech upgrade. Behold, the First Alert SC5, which does a lot more than just hang on the wall sniff for smoke.... and sometimes chirp annoyingly (always in the middle of the night) when the battery gets low. This one multi-tasks, keeping tabs on not only smoke but deadly carbon monoxide. It's also smart and well-connected, able to alert you via smartphone of problems, no matter where that may be at the time. And did I mention it talks now too...and has a big square test button in the middle that glows different colors, depending on what the device is doing? Yep, that is how far we have come from the days when smoke alarms were set and forget devices that did just one thing pretty well -- and were pretty inexpensive to boot. About that. This new one from First Alert is not. Inexpensive that is. You have to pay up if want all those new abilities from your next smoke alarm. Keep in mind this is a top-of-the-line model that does pretty anything a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector can be expected to do, and then some. That includes the capability of being tied in to a Google Nest Protect system, if you already have one of those. Or another compatible hard-wired smoke alarm, if your home already is wired that way. That means both alarms go off at the same time if one detects any problems. Even if you don't have either of these setups, this First Alert model is a breeze to install, especially if you are replacing an existing First Alert alarm. That's because it uses the same wiring harness, and can plug right in (this is a wired model with battery backup). You will have replace the round wall mount but that usually is a simple matter since they are typically held in place by two screws. Just pull the old one off, install the new mount that comes with the smoke detector. But I am getting ahead of myself since the overall setup process is a bit more complicated and must be completed first, before the detector is mounted on the wall. That involves downloading the app, which oddly enough, is not found in the app store under First Alert but the company's owner's name, Resideo. You cannot set up this detector without it. Then you have to go through the usual registration nonsense. Then can you pull the clear plastic battery tab on the detector (which provides power) and begin the setup. The app, along with lights and voice prompts from the detector, walk you through each step. You will need to scan a QR code to identify your model and punch in your home Wi-Fi network information along the way. The detector should tell you when you have successfully completed setup. Then you can mount it on the wall. Be aware if you pull the battery tab too soon, the detector may time out mid-install and you will have to start over. (This happend to me) Install the app first, complete the registration, then pull the tab. One big advantage of having an app is you don't have to drag out a ladder and climb up to press the button to do the weekly tests. (Yes, that is recommended) You can do all that from your smart phone app, and then revel in the narration the detector spits out during the tests, including warning you the alarm will be very loud when it sounds. You know that, of course, but it is nice to be reminded. This is also when you get to see the test button glow different colors, since each function is color coded. Otherwise, the button light is off. But there is a small always-on green pilot light, to show the detector is getting power from the house. This particular model is also supposed to be fine tuned to avoid the kind of nuisance alarms that sometimes occur when cooking. And even if it does go off, you can shut it off with the app, instead of climbing the ladder or knocking it off the wall with a broom handle to get it to stop beeping. That's something you don't want to do anyway with a detector this expensive. This model comes with backup batteries and is supposed to work for 10 years. Replacement is recommended after that. And will remind you of that with those now familiar chirps.

Not a good product. Tons of false alarms and changed out twice. Will be returning

I received this offer from First Alert – The SC5 smoke and carbon dioxide detector. This was a direct replacement for my Google Nest Protect as my protect was 10 years old and the Nest Protect is no longer being made. This product can be found on the Google store website and is stated to be the nest Ptotect’s successor. As such, it is stated to work with the Nest Ptotect mounting bracket and states that it comes with a direct connect adapter to the First Alert SC5. Install – COULD NOT HAVE BEEN EASIER!!! I removed the old Nest Protect and unhooked it from the power. I then used the included adapter specific to the Nest Protect wiring harness and a simple plug and play to this harness took 2 seconds. I then connected the included adapter to the detector unit and attached to the old Nest Protect mounting bracket. Total install time – 60 seconds as long as you are replacing Nest Protect to First Alert. I did not need to turn off the power to the area as this was a plug and play adapter to harness – no touching of wires. In case you are not replacing a Nest Protect, there is an included wiring harness with wiring nuts and of course the mounting bracket. Connecting the device to the First Alert by Resideo app took approximately 2 minutes including connecting to wifi and setting up link to Google Home. Total Install time 3 minutes. I ran a system test and it runs though both tests – smoke and CO. Please note the alarms are quite loud. After verifying the unit was operating properly, I made sure the Google Home integration was operational – and it worked flawlessly. My only con of this device is it does not have the motion sensor to light your pathway when in the dark (the Nest Protect had this feature and it was very handy in the dark). The First Alert website product page states this may be added in future renditions so I am guessing lots of owners liked this feature of the Nest Protect – including me). Being touted as a replacement for the Nest Protect, and coming in at it a premium price compared to other products available, this feature should have been included. All in all – good product

It’s getting time to replace my Google Nest Protect detectors. The First Alert SC5 is touted as the replacement for my Nest Protect model. While this model fits into the mounting brackets and wiring. It does not have all the same features the Google Nest. Initial setup via the First Alert app went without any problems. To utilize smart features requires the installation of the application found at resideo.com.us.en/first-alert-app/. This means that if you are looking for a plug and play detector this is not it. What is up with that annoying green light that is constantly on. It suits no real purpose, with the application all it needs to do is send a notification to your phone that it lost power. For that purpose, I could not install this in the bedroom, the light kept me awake. During testing I found the quality of the voice playback to be lacking. From a distance it is hard to understand what is being said. The loss of the path light feature is a real setback. As I was adding this detector to my existing network I found that my nest application does not support the SC5, however once installed it works properly if you test the Nest Protect the SC5 will also go off and visa versa. Keep in mind that the Google Nest protect is no longer available.

I have eight Nest Protect smoke/CO detectors that have served me well. The oldest one is about 8-years old. They expire after 10 years. Unfortunately, the Nest Protects have been discontinued and the First Alert SC5 is the official replacement. So, I replaced my oldest Nest Protect with the First Alert SC. It was pretty seamless exchange. The First Alert and the Nest Protect ceiling mounts are the same, and the First Alert comes with a wiring adapter harness that connects your existing Nest Protect wiring to the plug on the First Alert. The First Alert looks good and seems well made. You will need to download the First Alert app and create an account to connect to the smoke/CO detector. You can then link the detector to the Google Home App, so that it is synced with your other Nest Protects, but it will not show up in the Nest app. It does not have the Pathway light that the Nest Protect has. It seems to be a good functional replacement for the Nest Protect, but with the missing Pathway light and not showing up with the other Nest Protects in the Nest app, it is a slight downgrade to what was given with the Nest Protect, so I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I recently had to replace an aging smoke detector and decided to upgrade to a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector. After some research, I landed on the First Alert Hardwired unit, and I'm very glad I did. This thing is a serious piece of equipment that gives me true peace of mind. Installation Was a Breeze (Mostly) I was a little apprehensive about the "hardwired" part, and while the process was straightforward, I felt more comfortable having an electrician handle the final connection. The unit comes with a quick-connect wiring harness that was compatible with my existing wiring. All the electrician had to do was attach the three wires to the new harness (black, white, and red for the interconnect feature), clip it in, and twist the detector onto the ceiling bracket. The whole process took less than 15 minutes. The battery backup is a nice touch, too—no need to worry about power outages. Design & Features The detector itself is a simple, clean white disc that blends in perfectly with my ceiling. It's not a big, clunky eyesore like some of the older models. The single button on the front is easy to access for testing or hushing a false alarm (like when I burned some toast). I love that it clearly announces whether it's detecting smoke or carbon monoxide with a different tone and voice prompt. The interconnectivity feature is a major selling point for me; now I know that if one unit goes off, they all will, giving everyone in the house a loud and clear warning. Performance & Reliability So far, it's been rock solid. I've done a few tests to make sure it works, and it's loud and effective. I haven't had any false alarms, which is a huge plus. The hardwired connection means I don't have to constantly check the battery life, which was a constant worry with my old, purely battery-operated detectors. The peace of mind knowing that I have both smoke and CO detection from a single, reliable unit is worth every penny. Final Verdict If you're looking for a hardwired, reliable, and easy-to-install combination detector, the First Alert Hardwired is an excellent choice. It's well-designed, packed with the right features, and most importantly, it provides a crucial layer of safety for your home and family. I highly recommend it. Rating: ★★★★★

I recently upgraded my home safety system by installing the First Alert SC5 Hardwire Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm, and I couldn't be happier with my choice. I wanted something that would not only keep my family safe but also integrate seamlessly with my existing Google Nest smart home system. One of the standout features for me is the ability to receive alerts on my phone, whether I'm at home or away. It's a comforting thought knowing that if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected, I’ll be notified immediately. Of course, I hope I never have to test this feature, but it’s reassuring to know it’s there. Installation was a breeze thanks to the Quick Connect plug. I didn't have to worry about complicated rewiring, which was a huge plus for me. The hardwire interconnect feature is also great because it means that if one alarm goes off, all compatible alarms will sound. This gives me peace of mind, especially when I have guests over or when the kids are sleeping. I also appreciate the voice alerts that tell me the type and location of the danger. It’s much better than just a beeping sound; it feels more informative and less panic-inducing. Plus, having a 2-in-1 protection system for both smoke/fire and carbon monoxide is a huge advantage. No need for separate alarms, which is truly cost-saving. Another feature that I find comforting is the battery backup. Living in an area where power outages can happen all of a sudden, it’s nice to know that we’ll still be protected even if the lights go out. Before this, I had a simple 'plug-and-play' alarm from a different brand, but I wanted to upgrade to something smarter and more reliable. The First Alert SC5 fits the bill perfectly. Overall, I feel more secure in my home, and I would definitely recommend this alarm to anyone looking to enhance their fire safety measures.

We have 3 Nest Protects in our house and have loved the ability to control and monitor them from our phones, along with the interconnected nature of the devices. With Nest shutting down that division, First Alert appears to have picked up the slack and has built a device that mirrors the older Protects and will end up being the perfect replacement when those old ones hit the end of their life. Installation and setup were a breeze with the included wiring and bracket. I would appreciate being able to control the device through the Google app, but First Alert's app is very user friendly and intuitive. Fortunately we haven't had any incidents that have set it off, but on testing it is loud and you will get alerts on your devices. Overall, I'm very happy that First Alert, one of the most recognizable names in smoke detectors, is the one carrying this flag for a smart device. It's well built, well thought out and easy to install and use. Being able to monitor remotely gives additional piece of mind and the ability to call for help if something happens when you're not at home. You can't put a price on being able to save a family member or pet. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking to replace a hardwired detector!

I've been waiting for the First Alert SC5 Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector since it was announced a few months ago. Getting the chance to review one as Tech Insider Network member is almost perfect timing for me. I've had 5 Nest Protect smoke+CO detectors in my home since just after we moved in 9 years ago, and since Google discontinued the product I've been anxiously waiting for the third party option to become available. Then, about 2 months ago one of my hardwired Protects gave up the ghost and I was forced to go down a protector while waiting. So yeah - almost perfect timing. The First Alert SC5 is marketed as the official replacement device for the Nest Protect detectors, and in that respect it's both surprisingly nice and also a little frustrating. The biggest benefit to getting the SC5s to replace your Nest Protects is the SC5 allows you to reuse your existing mounts and wiring harnesses. The SC5 comes with an adapter that converts the Nest harness so you don't do any splicing with this protector at all. You just remove your Nest from its twist mount, connect the adapter, connect the SC5, then twist it back on the mount. Perfect. I also think the SC5 looks suitably modern, though not as nice as the Nest Protects, unfortunately. It also syncs with your Nest Protects via the Google Home app, so you get the same benefits of wireless interconnects. However, that same connectivity with Nest and Google Home is also the main frustration I have with the First Alert SC5. I'd hoped that Google was just farming out the hardware production to a third party, and that software wise it would be a direct replacement for the Protect. That's not exactly true. In order to use the First Alert, you have to set up yet another IoT app on your phone, with yet another IoT account via Resideo, and to make matters even worse it doesn't support Google account login. Lastly, the SC5 doesn't show up in the Nest app itself - sure all my Protects show up in Google Home, but I'd rather it all be in the Nest app, too, which is easier to use for just these specific products. Finally, it's minor but I really wish the SC5 had the Pathway light that Nest Protect had. In conclusion - if you're a Nest Protect owner anxiously watching the expiration date for your Protects get closer and closer, the First Alert SC5 is a near perfect drop in replacement for your Protects. Just don't expect it to be 100% perfect.

I have a hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide alarm system in my house, but it doesn’t connect to any kind of monitoring system and there’s no way for me to know if they are going off if I’m not at home. This solves that! It hardwires directly into my existing system (I didn’t need any other cables) and then connects to my wifi. Setup took only a couple minutes and I connected the app with my google home ecosystem to receive alerts. I tested it with my other first alert smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and they both communicate with each other when an alarm signal goes out. There is a big button in the middle for testing and silencing alarms and a clear LED indicator to easily see that the system is online and functioning properly. My only nit is that it doesn’t mount super flush to the wall so there’s a clear half inch gap above it where you can see the mounting hardware. My other first alert alarms have a much smoother transition piece so I don’t know why something wasn’t included here.

I got this unit to replace my current unit that was 19 years old. What I particularly like about this unit is the combined smoke/CO2 detection. The smart feature is nice, but not necessary. Knowing that a detector has an advertised 10 year lifespan, I got this unit to replace an existing unit. As a hardwired unit, the installation is straight forward. Twisting off the old unit, unplugging it, removing the old mounting ring, and disconnecting the wiring was easy. The installation of this unit's own mounting ring, connecting the wiring to this new unit, and installing the new mounting ring was similarly easy. The wiring harness snaps onto the unit and the unit then easily twists on to the mounting ring. Once powered on, the voice prompt gave instruction to connect the mobile app. That was easy enough to locate, download, and configure the mobile app. Adding this device within the mobile app was familiar - it was very similar to adding devices via other apps (click the add button, scan the QR code on the side of the detector, following prompts). I like the idea of this being network-connected - to get alerts for smoke or CO2. I guess this provides a bit more peace of mind. I'm sold on this unit, so now I'll buy a second unit to replace the remaining dated unit - and to interconnect the two smoke + CO2 detectors together.

I've used First Alert products for over 20 years. I've also used other "smart" smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (such a Nest) over the last several years. We moved into a 17 year-old home where the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were "old school" devices using 9 volt batteries. It was time to replace them so we went with First Alert. I had to install the new mounting bracket as the old brackets couldn't be used with the new device. That only took about 5 minutes to do it properly by ensuring the bracket was secure on the ceiling. The rest of the installation was pretty simple. One of the benefits of this device is that it is compatible with the Nest and Google Home apps. I didn't want another one-off smart home app so I was able to complete the setup on my Google Home app. The Google Home app is far from perfect but I use it for my Nest Thermostats, doorbell and video cameras. Once I connected the wiring harness it was simple to add the device to my Google Home app. I wanted the hard-wired version as I have used battery-operated smart home detectors in the past. These need constant monitoring for battery health. For now, I am very pleased with the First Alert device. Time will tell in the next couple years if it holds up for a longer period of time.

The set up was straight foward and easy, bought it to replace my nest