How to Deactivate Smoke Detector Wiring

Flip the breaker switch that provides electricity to your smoke detector to "Off." Never attempt to disable wiring while the unit still has a power supply.

Grip the smoke detector from the bottom and twist it counterclockwise to remove it from the base plate.

Push in, pull or squeeze the plastic catches on the backside of the smoke detector where the wires connect to the device. Then pull on the plug that attaches the wires to the smoke detector. Set the smoke detector aside.

Use a Phillips screwdriver to turn counterclockwise the screws that connect the base plate to the ceiling. Place the screws somewhere nearby.

Pull down on the base plate after removing the screws if the base plate doesn't immediately drop from the ceiling.

Gently pull the ends of the wires out of the hole in the ceiling.

Turn the twist-on wire nuts at the ends of the wires counterclockwise. Slightly pull out to remove the wire nuts that connect two wires together. Pull apart the wire ends from each other after removing the wire nuts. The wiring has now been deactivated.

Place the base plate back on the ceiling and turn the screws clockwise to secure it. Place a battery in the smoke detector if there is not one there yet. Turn the smoke detector clockwise against the base plate to reinstall it. Do these things only if you want to continue to use the smoke detector with battery power only. Skip this step if you will no longer use the smoke detector at all.

Turn the breaker switch back on, as it probably provides power to other parts of your home aside from the smoke detector connection.