Know Your Smoke Alarms!

Smoke alarms, often referred to as "smoke detectors," are essential for a home's fire protection plan. Understanding what type of alarm you have and how it functions is crucial, but it's not as complicated as it may seem. To identify the type of smoke alarm you have, simply look for the data sticker(s) on the back of the alarm, as displayed in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Data Identification Information

Residential alarm devices commonly fall into four categories: 1. Ionization Smoke Alarms 2. Photoelectric Smoke Alarms 3. Dual Alarms 4. Heat Alarms Ionization smoke alarms use radioactive material to ionize the air. When smoke disrupts the airflow through the plates, it triggers the alarm. These are best suited for rooms with flammable liquids, cooking grease, paint, and paper. Photoelectric smoke alarms utilize a beam of light that scatters when smoke is present, triggering the alarm. They are best suited for living rooms, bedrooms, and outdoor kitchens and are quicker at identifying small smoldering fires than ionization smoke detectors. Dual alarms combine ionization and photoelectric smoke alarm technology, providing comprehensive protection by detecting smoldering and flaming fires. Heat detectors detect excessive heat in the surrounding area rather than smoke or fumes, making them ideal for kitchens, attics, garages, laundry, and furnace rooms. They have fewer false alarms than smoke alarms but take longer to identify a fire. We highly recommend installing dual alarm devices in homes for the best overall protection and peace of mind. These alarms provide alerts across the spectrum of fire types, ensuring you're always prepared. The good news is that these alarms are plug-and-play, whether you have a hard-wired or battery-only set-up! It's important to note that homeowners should replace their devices every ten years or sooner if they show signs of wear or decay. Owners should also test their devices at least once a month to ensure proper function. If you have any questions or want to have your devices and/or other fire suppression devices inspected (e.g., fire extinguishers), feel free to call our team; we're here to help!