How To Choose The Right Smoke Detector For Your Home

How To Choose The Right Smoke Detector For Your Home

Smoke detectors can be a lifesaving tool in your home. However, it is important to choose the right one for your needs. There are several factors to consider when choosing a smoke detector for your home, including the type of sensor it uses, sensitivity and placement. Luckily, there are many choices to choose from!

Detector Types

There are many different types of smoke detectors available, including photoelectric and ionization detectors. Photoelectric smoke detectors use a light source to illuminate air. When particles (smoke or dust) enter the chamber, the light is scattered and some reaches the sensor, which triggers the alarm. Ionization smoke detectors work similarly to photoelectric smoke detectors, except they have electrically charged plates that ionize the air. When smoke or combustible fumes enter the open plate chamber, some of the particles attach to the ions and decrease their ability to carry current. Some detectors also feature interconnectivity, which allows you to connect them together with other devices in the event of a fire. This feature makes them a valuable addition to your house’s fire protection system.

Sensitivity

Detector sensitivity is an important factor to consider when purchasing a smoke detector for your home. This will determine how often your fire alarm will alert you to a fire. Choosing a smoke detector with a high sensitivity means that you will be more likely to get an alert when it detects fire. This means that you will be more likely to escape from a burning building in a timely manner and lessen the risk of injuries or death.

Placement

Smoke alarms are one of the cheapest ways to protect your home and can save lives. But to be effective, they need to be placed and installed correctly. According to the National Fire Protection Association, a good smoke detector should be installed on every level of your home and in all bedrooms. You can also install interconnected smoke detectors to provide better whole-home protection. It is best to place detectors high, so they can detect smoke rising from the floor or ceiling. Placing them too close to air ducts can interfere with their performance. Don’t install smoke detectors near stoves, ovens or bathrooms that have steam and hot water. These can trigger false alarms.

Maintenance

Detectors are designed to alert you at the first sign of smoke or fire, but they must be maintained in order to work properly. Keeping them clean and tested is a simple but important task that can significantly reduce your risk of death from house fires. It is important to change batteries on smoke detectors every year. Changing them is a straightforward task that should take less than 30 minutes per unit, making it easy to keep up with. Also, if you notice that your detector is chirping frequently, it could be the battery. You can check it to see if it is loose or needs replacing by pressing the test button on the unit. If the chirping persists, replace the battery.

Categorised in: Fire Prevention, Fire Safety Tips, Smoke Detector

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