All my nest protects are expiring, so need to buy replacements (need 9). Is First Alert Z-wave combo detectors pretty much. Best choice out there? I’m also co considering Kidde WiFi detectors, as they integrate with Ring and I use Ring ecosystem (alarm as well) extensively. Not really sure why I need them integrated with HE… there really isn’t much benefit imo, but Ring has better and more consistent notifications I think. Not about Ring vs HE, I love my HE haha, just trying to figure out options before I have to spend $500+ bucks on the new detectors.
Need may be too strong a word, but things you can do when an alarm is activated on a Smoke/CO integrated into HE:
- Turn on lights
- Unlock doors
- Turn HVAC or exhaust fans on or off
Of course, you could always go “old school”!
Put in interconnected, wired detectors. Big upfront dollars, but a one-time cost.
Then use a Ecolink “firefighter” listening device to integrate with Hubitat.
I went with Sensereo MS1 smoke alarms. Matter based but no CO detection. I think they offer that though.
If you’re already using Ring, then the First Alert Z-Wave Plus combo detectors are a pretty easy choice.
Get good wired smoke detectors that are not smart and then use something like the EcoLink Firefighter to make them integrated with Hubitat.
Thats what im thinking as well. And i already have the listeners that i used to “integrate” Nest Protects to Hubitat.
With the discontinuation announcement, I immeadiately went out and bought two spares for my oldest detectors. Have replaced one and the next is coming up on August 29, 2026. When that happens, I’ll have to figure something out in Nov and Dec of 2027. My remaining six other detectors expire throughout 2029, 2031 and 2033.
Hoping something better comes along by 2027. I’ve had such terrible experiences with First Alert that I’ll never buy a detector made by them again (unless they were to take over the Nest Protect production without changing anything). Kidde have always been fine. I’ve never had detectors better than Nest Protect though. The steam check function, path light, self testing, and total absense of false alarms has always set them apart from the pack. Of all the things Google has killed, this is one of the dumbest choices. If another company was to take over the production and produce the same product, I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Couldn’t care less about any other product Google, Nest, ABC (or whatever they want to be called today) have made, but nothing compares to how good those detectors are.
We have 4 of the First Alert Z-wave combo detectors in use for years now, haven’t had issues with them, even in the kitchen if my wife slightly smokes it up cooking something.
I’ve had to change batteries a few times though, which isn’t the end of the world, but yeah.
I read that the newer model you can’t replace the battery, so I won’t get those myself at least.
The new model has a 10 year battery, which is the life of the CO detector, so not being able to change the battery is a feature, not a bug.
Changing smoke detector batteries is a thing of the past for me now (many smoke detectors have 10 year batteries these days, not just the zcombo). Once the battery’s low, the smoke/co sensors (and thus the device itself) needs to be replaced anyway.
Yeah I get that, I have dumb smoke alarms with 10 year batteries.
But, I think we all have experienced all sorts of smart devices that are supposed to have long battery life drain a battery way quicker than is documented/expected for a number of different reasons (bad firmware, bad driver, overly chatty, distance from hub, etc).
Maybe someone wants to buy smart devices that you can’t change the batteries on, but not me.
These aren’t $10 smart buttons or motion sensors, these are $50+.
These are direct replacement Nest compatible smoke/co detectors. Wired or battery only. All interconnected. Use an Ecolink firefighter to bring them into hubitat
But do they have Pathlight?
Yes
But I believe the 10 year battery life is built into the UL certification for smoke/CO detectors, and it does apparently have a 10 year limited warranty too.
While that’s of course no guarantee that nothing could ever go wrong with the battery over a decade, it should provide some piece of mind compared to a generic $10 smart button.
Thanks! Wish they weren’t First Alert, but I’ve got until 2027 to hear from others on how reliable they are, and how well the false alarm prevention works. If they are interconnected and work with Nest Protect, I’m assuming I would not need Ecolink firefighter since I have both the Home Assistant Nest Protect integration and the Starling hub (still works with Apple Home).
Not sure why everyone is assuming that smart = not wired. I keep seeing this recommendation though.
1- My current nests on on my interconnected, wired system.
2- First alert also has wired AND smart. But based on reviews about battery alerts, I am not sure they are the best choice. I am hoping by next year when mine expire, there might be some better options.
The only reason I really want something smart is for alerts while I am away from the house. And, I am not really wanting to install more wiring behind the detectors for the "add on" smart notifications.
There were things I am going to miss about the Nests when they go (mainly the night light feature and the auto self checks). But, it looks like there really is no exact replacement.
I have dumb (but nicer model) interconnected Kiddes in key places, and I wired a Zen55 in to one of those… Long story, but I needed to test that whole setup earlier this week, and it all worked great (immediate alerts from the Z55).
I have some dumb battery Kiddes elsewhere around the (small) house too, but any serious smoke/fire/CO is going to get to one of the interconnected ones pretty darn fast, so I’m not worried about covering the batt detectors with their own smarts.
I’m sure the EcoLink FFs work great too, but when I have the option of mains-powered or battery for a solution, I’ll take mains-powered 10/10 times.
When I say "not smart", I mean don't get the Zigbee/Zwave/Matter smoke alarm that will get inevitably get discontinued in a few years. Get an "ordinary" one. Interconnected and hardwired is preferred.
No extra wiring needed with the EcoLink Firefighter. Here is mine (on the right) next to my wired, interconnected smoke alarm. If any alarm in the house goes off, then I get an immediate notification.
I guess my mistake is assuming everyone's alarms are interconnected. If they aren't, then you need one EcoLink Firefighter per smoke alarm. That is suboptimal.