Approximately 2,500 people are killed each year in residential fires, and another 500 die from carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas that’s known as the “silent killer.”
Consumer Reports’ carbon monoxide & smoke alarm reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our carbon monoxide & smoke alarm buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider.
Why do I Need Smoke Alarms?
Smoke Alarm Placement Video
Smoke Alarm Types
A smoke alarm is a device that senses smoke, typically an indicator of fire. There are smoke alarms for those unprotected areas of your home such as bedrooms, kid’s playroom, den, or dining room.
There are three types of smoke alarms: ionization, photoelectric, and combination alarms. Packed with features like an advanced smoke entry system and photoelectric smoke sensor, which are better at sensing smoky fires, such as a smoldering mattress.
- Ionization alarms detect the presence of ionized particles in the air and are more sensitive to flaming fires than other types of fires.
- Photoelectric alarms respond to smoke particles in the air and can detect flaming and smoldering fires. Photoelectric smoke detectors respond faster (typically 30 minutes or more) to fire in its early, smoldering stage (before it breaks into flame). The smoke from the smoldering stage of a fire is typically made up of large combustion particles — between 0.3 and 10.0 µm
- Combination alarms have both ionization and photoelectric sensors.
Most of them are packed with features like an advanced smoke entry system and photoelectric smoke sensor, which are better at sensing smoky fires, such as a smoldering mattress.
Due to the varying levels of detection capabilities between detector types, manufacturers have designed multi-criteria devices that cross-reference the separate signals to rule out false alarms and improve response times to real fires.
Consumer Reports Buying Guide can help you determine which smoke alarm is best for protecting your family and your home.
Underline
Smoke alarms are a necessity in any home. They can detect smoke and alert you to the fire before it becomes too late. The goal is to have enough time to evacuate the building or put out the fire before it spreads, but this is not always possible, so you need a smoke alarm that will work even when there’s no power. Don’t ever forget about proper smoke alarm placement!
There are various types of smoke alarms available on the market, and each one has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Before buying one, you should know its type, optimal fire alarm placement, and how it functions.
Once you have selected and installed the fire alarm, make sure that there are no leaks or other damages on your roof that can break it. Do not hesitate to contact PERTEX Roofing & Construction.
