Choosing Smoke Detectors

By Author: ron grosso
Total Articles: 3764
Comment this article

A smoke detector helps to give you advanced warning in the event of smoke or fire in your home. A smoke detector will let out a loud, high pitched beep to alert you and if needed allow you to escape your home before fire consumes it. Most house fires occur when people are sleeping so this is why it is important to have a smoke detector.

When it comes to your survival, smoke detectors are your best option. When it comes to getting a smoke detector you want to choose the most reliable model. Consider some of the following tips when choosing a smoke detector for your home.

First you want to make sure you get a smoke detector that is UL or Underwriter Laboratory tested and rated. This assures you that you are getting a smoke detector which has been put through testing in all kinds of scenarios. An indication of UL testing should be seen on the box of the smoke detector and if there is no indication then it probably has not been UL tested. The safest option for you and your family is a smoke detector that has been UL tested.

Next you need to choose which type of smoke alarm is best for your home. There is ...
... a hard wired system that is hooked up to the electrical system in your home and there is a 9-volt smoke detector that operates off a battery. When it comes to choosing between these two there are a few factors you want to take into consideration.

A hard wired system is more reliable and provides earlier detection. In the event that the electrical system fails in your home then the system automatically reverts to a battery backup. However, these systems are also more expensive and you will have to pay to have it professionally installed.

This does not mean a battery operated detector is no good. While these models are less expensive they can still save your life in an emergency. The only real downside to having a battery operated smoke detector is that you need to remember to replace the batteries regularly. Always get in the habit of changing the batteries on your smoke detector when you change your clocks for daylight savings time.

Once you have purchased your smoke detector it is important that you install it in a place where it will be most effective. You want to have at least one smoke detector located near the sleeping area of your home. If you have more than one sleeping area you should have more than one smoke detector.

A smoke detector should be located high on the wall since smoke will rise. Do not hang a smoke detector behind any curtains or furniture. This will prevent the smoke detector from working properly. While placing a smoke detector near the kitchen or fireplace may seem like a good idea, these are actually two places to avoid. Placing a smoke detector near these areas will cause malfunctions and continuous false alarms. It is better to place your smoke detectors in other areas of the house.