How to Replace a Smoke Duct Detector With Heat

A smoke detector placed inside a duct can detect smoke wafting through the walls of the house, unlike a detector mounted to a wall or ceiling. To replace a smoke detector that is inside a duct with a detector designed to detect heat instead, discontinue the electric power to the smoke detector first. The smoke detector can then be removed from the duct and replaced with the heat detector. No special skills are required, but you will need some common household tools in order to make the swap.

Ladder
Electric screwdriver, Phillips-head tip
Glass
Flashlight
Wire cutters
Ruler
Wire strippers
Screw-tab connectors

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the duct in which the smoke detector sits -- this typically will be near the ceiling on the wall or in the ceiling, since smoke rises. Place a ladder so that you can reach the duct.
- 2
  Remove the screws from around the duct with an electric screwdriver with a Phillips-head tip, set at "Reverse." Place the screws in a glass to keep them safe.
- 3
  Pull the duct off the wall or ceiling. Place it aside. Shine a flashlight inside the duct compartment to confirm that the smoke detector is inside.
- 4
  Go to the circuit breaker. Trip the breaker that supplies electrical power to the area where the smoke detector is located.
- 5
  Remove the screws surrounding the smoke detector with the Phillips screwdriver. Place the screws in the glass. Pull the smoke detector out of the compartment. Cut the wires attached to the back of the detector off with a wire cutter. Dispose of the smoke detector properly Remove the sampling and exhaust tubes from the smoke detector.
- 6
  Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off the ends of the wires coming out of the compartment using wire strippers.
- 7
  Strip the ends of the wires attached to the back of the heat detector in the same manner as was just done; if the wires are pre-stripped, you can ignore doing this step.
- 8
  Wind the ends of the like-colored wires from the heat detector around the ends of the wires from the compartment. Twist a screw-tab connector over each twisted pair of wires. Continue twisting the connector onto the wires until there is heavy resistance.
- 9
  Place the heat detector into the compartment so that it occupies the same position as the smoke detector did. Set the electric screwdriver at "Forward," not "Reverse." Screw the screws kept from the smoke detector through the holes in the sides of the heat detector and into the plating in the compartment using the Phillips screwdriver.Attach the sampling and exhaust tubes to the heat detector in the manner described in the instruction manual that accompanies the detector.
- 10
  Place the duct back over the compartment. Reattach the screws. Restore the electric power at the circuit breaker.

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