You’re sound asleep when a fast-burning fire engulfs your home. Do you have smoke detectors to wake you so you can escape?
Unfortunately, many people don’t. In 2014, almost 3,000 people lost their lives in structure fires and 60% of those deaths occurred in homes without smoke alarms.1,2 The bottom line- Smoke alarms can save lives. In order to protect your family, pets, and yourself from injury or death during a fire, smoke alarms are essential. Below, you’ll find the best smoke detectors on the market and other basic fire-safety information that can keep your family protected.
Smoke detectors are different than fire alarms. Unlike smoke detectors, which only screen for smoke, fire alarms also contain heat sensors and sprinklers. Fire alarms also have the ability to communicate with emergency services and call for help, while most smoke detectors are only able to alert you when they sense smoke and fire.
Fires happen every day. In 2014, firefighters reported to a blaze every 24 seconds. If you have smoke detectors in your home, you’ll have a better chance of getting everyone out safely. While any smoke detector is better than none, there are a number of models to choose from with varying pros and cons:
Some smoke alarms do more than detect fire. Many include carbon monoxide detection too-giving you double protection in one device. Multifunctional alarms can be battery-operated, hardwired, or smart, so prices vary.
Smart smoke detectors are cutting-edge in fire safety. They communicate through apps and deliver alerts if an alarm sounds. Smart alarms can talk to each other too, so you’ll know exactly where the fire is coming from if an alarm is triggered. The only downside is that smart devices are more expensive, but you get a lot of safety for your buck.
Battery-operated smoke alarms can’t be wired into your home’s electrical system. Instead, they run on batteries. The upside- They don’t require complicated installation. The only hiccup is that they become inactive if the batteries die. Since dead batteries caused about 25% of smoke detector failures in 2014, this is a potential risk you should be aware of.
There are smart batteries on the market that can communicate with your phone when power is low.3 If you have a battery-operated smoke alarm, this is an option to consider.
Hardwired smoke detectors come with wires that hook into your home’s electrical system. Most come with a backup battery to prevent your device from becoming inactive. Hardwired smoke detectors are an extremely reliable option because the odds of losing power are low. Although, they require more installation knowledge.
Smoke alarms typically have three types of sensors: ionization, photoelectric, and dual. Here are the main differences between the three:
Photoelectric sensors are better at detecting smoldering fires that generate lots of smoke. These sensors use a light to detect smoke and sound an alarm.
Ionization sensors are designed to recognize fast-burning, flaming fires through the small amounts of smoke they produce. They’re equipped with two metal plates and a small amount of radioactive material to ionize air. When smoke passes through the device, it interrupts the ionization and triggers the alarm.
Dual sensors include both photoelectric and ionization sensors. These are considered to be the safest smoke alarms because they detect both smoldering and flaming fires.
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