Smoke alarms are cheap and straightforward, but they can be a lifesaver. However, some things you don’t know about smoke alarms may make you rethink the ones you have now.
Smoke Alarms vs. Smoke Detectors
Before we delve into the smoke alarm discussion, it’s essential to talk about the differences between smoke alarms and smoke detectors. The two terms are colloquially interchangeable but actually different types of devices.
The big difference is that “smoke detectors” are standalone all-in-one devices, including a smoke detector and an audible alarm. This is what you have in your house or apartment.
“Smoke detectors” usually only contain a smoke detector and nothing else. From there, the alarm is a separate device, and the controls for the entire system are kept in a central location. You’ll find these systems in commercial applications like hotels and hospitals.
So, smoke alarms are usually found in residences, while smoke detectors are usually found in places of employment. However, this article will focus mainly on residential smoke detectors.
Two Different Types Of Smoke Detectors
Unfortunately, not all smoke alarms are created equal. This is because two different types of sensors detect fire and smoke. These two sensors are called “photoelectric” and “ionization” sensors, and they both sense entirely different types of smoke and fire.
In a nutshell, photoelectric sensors are good for detecting smoldering fires, which are slow-burning fires that don’t produce much flame. Ionization lights are good for detecting the opposite, which are fast-burning fires that produce a lot of flame. Both sensors use different sensor technology, which is why they detect different types of fires.
Smoke detectors that offer both types of sensors in one unit are available, but it’s also easy to find smoke detectors that provide only one or the other. If you are interested in smoke detectors, RS has the best offerings to consider.
Battery vs. Wired Smoke Alarms
In addition to different types of sensors, smoke alarms come in two types of power connections: battery-powered or wired to your home’s electrical system.
Using a wired smoke alarm may be best because you do not have to worry about replacing batteries, but they are also interconnected. This means that if one alarm goes off, all the other alarms will go off as well, which is excellent if you have a larger home and there is a possibility of not hearing one alarm go off through the house.
However, not all homes are wired for smoke alarms, which is where battery-powered devices come into play. They are also easier to install since there are no wires.
Where You Need To Install Smoke Alarms
It’s likely that when you first outfitted your home with smoke alarms, you simply picked a couple places around the house that seemed like good places to install them. However, you need more smoke than you realize.
You need to install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside of every sleeping area (such as in a hallway connecting multiple rooms), and on every level of the house, including the basement.
It is also important to install them no further than 12 inches from the ceiling if you mount them on a wall (as smoke rises) and that you do not install them near doors, windows, or vents, where drafts and general airflow can interfere with the smoke alarm’s detection capabilities.
