Smoke Alarms Buying Guide

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Smoke Alarms

or smoke detector is a must have for anybody's home or apartment. It is recommended that they be placed on each floor of a home as well as outside of each bedroom. Having a smoke alarm can save your life and the lives of your children so be wise and install them throughout your home and test them regularly to make sure they are in working order.

Contents

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1 Types of Smoke Alarms
2 Powering Your Smoke Alarm
3 Alarm Standards and Features
4 Major Manufacturers
5 Related Products
6 External Links

Types of Smoke Alarms

There are three types of smoke alarms, ionization, photoelectric, and dual-sensor alarms which contain both detection methods.

Ionization Alarms

In an ionization alarm, a harmless radioactive source produces a current. This current can be interrupted by smoke. When this happens, the alarm goes off.
Best at detecting fires with high flames, such as those caused by flammable liquids. They do not do well with smoky, smoldering fires.
Generally much less expensive than photoelectric alarms, costing less than $10.

Photoelectric Alarms

A photoelectric alarm uses beam of light instead of an electric current to detect fires. When there is enough smoke in the alarm to deflect the beam of light, the alarm goes off.
Good at detecting smoky, smoldering fires, such as those caused by burning bedding materials.
Generally more expensive, usually costing around $30.

Dual-Sensor Alarms -- Best Choice

Generally regarded as the best kind of alarm, a dual sensor gives you the advantages of both sensors.
Often, dual-sensor alarms are less expensive than buying each kind of alarm separately.
Regarded as the safest option for all-purpose home use.

Powering Your Smoke Alarm

Battery Operated

If you opt for a battery-operated smoke alarm, you have to be sure to change the batteries every six months.
A good way to remember is to do it at the same time you reset your clocks for Daylight Savings Time.
Lithium batteries can act as a backup battery or as the main power source. They are long-lasting and will probably provide power for the life of your smoke alarm.

House Wiring

Another option is to buy alarms that are hard-wired into your home's electrical system.
These alarms can sometimes be networked together, so that if one goes off, they all go off.

House Wiring with Battery Backup

The combination gives you the security that even if the power is out, your smoke alarms will still work.

Whichever type of alarm you choose, alarms need to be replaced every ten years or so because the mechanism will wear out over time.
Most newer alarms have the date stamped on them, so you know when they need to be replaced.

Alarm Standards and Features

Most alarms will come with the following, but it is always good to double-check.

85 decibel alarm (or louder).
Chirp warning for a low battery.
A test button and false alarm silence button.
Hinged cover for easy cleaning -- excess dust can interfere with alarm function.
Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Standard -- only buy alarms that meet this standard.

Some alarms may have additional special features:

Flashing strobe -- for the hearing-impaired, this smoke detector also includes an alarm. They're more expensive than other detectors, priced at around $150.
Emergency lighting -- to help you find your way out of the house in an emergency.
Voice alarm -- some studies have suggested that young children can sleep through your average smoke alarm, but will wake quickly to the recorded sound of their parents.

Check out the KidSmart Vocal Smoke Alarm from the KidSmart Corporation.
Keep in mind that the KidSmart Alarm is a photoelectric alarm only; consider buying a separate ionization alarm to go along with it.

Combination Smoke and CO detector -- some sources suggest buying a separate CO detector rather than a combination unit because the combined unit is not as effective.