Installing smoke detectors at home
Most homes use battery-operated smoke detectors to alert occupants of smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide (CO). While these safety devices work fine for your home, they must be replaced per the manufacture’s specifications. Keep the following information in mind if you need to choose new devices for your home.
Options for Smoke Detector Devices
You may benefit from having certain types of smoke detectors. A few of the different options that are available for your residence include the following:
- Hard-wired detectors: These detectors connect to your home’s electrical system rather than running on battery power. With this type of device, you don’t have to worry about checking and replacing batteries nearly as often as they are there as a backup. These detectors work constantly when your power is on. If you lose power, they use the backup battery to keep running.
- Wireless detectors: These smoke detectors “talk” to each other through your wi-fi connection. If one goes off it can alert the other detectors of potential danger. However, in the event the power fails and your wi-fi goes down they are not better than a single battery smoke detector.
- Battery-powered detectors: These are usually the easiest to install and replace. Quite simply, they are better than nothing. Battery-powered smoke detectors work independently of each other and only the one that senses smoke will alarm. Batteries need to be replaced often. Some newer systems have long-life batteries that can last up to 10 years.
- Dual purpose, smoke and CO detectors: If you have natural gas in your home, you need to have a CO detector to keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe. Many smoke detectors include a CO detector to alert you of high carbon monoxide levels in the home. Carbon monoxide can be deadly if the gas lines in your home are leaking.
Installation and Operation Requirements
No matter what type of smoke detector you choose for your home, you should have them professionally installed. Our electricians can ensure that your new detectors are properly and safely installed. With a hard-wired system, they can handle the installation process without damaging your existing wiring. We always recommend a hard-wired system as they have a longer battery life, require less maintenance, and communicate better in the event of a fire.
New smoke detectors to the market are smart home enabled and can connect to your mobile device whether you’re home or away. This can provide peace of mind knowing that you’ll always be alerted should there be a fire in your home. Some of these smart devices include CO detectors as well as improved detection to alert you sooner rather than later. With mobile alerts, everyone in your family can know if there’s a problem in your home.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to have electricians take care of maintenance and repairs if you go with hard-wired detectors. Our team can handle these tasks to ensure that your detectors continue to work properly.
Locations for Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors need to cover the areas of your home that you spend your time in. You should have a detector installed in each room, hallway, and bedroom. Keep in mind that with a hard-wired system in place, all will sound to smoke or fire in your home right away. With a non-hardwired detector, only the detector in the affected area goes off. Other detectors won’t sound the alarm until smoke or fire reaches the area they’re in. However, the newer “smart” smoke detectors are able to wirelessly alert each other so you won’t have to be near the fire or smoke to know there’s a problem.
Professional electricians can help you determine the most suitable placement for your detectors if you’re installing new ones. This will depend on the layout of your home and other factors, such as the size.
Whether you’re installing new smoke detectors or aren’t sure if your current ones are working properly, contact 24/7 Local Electrician today.
