Since smoke detectors in general don't use a lot of power, many of these battery-powered models require very little maintenance on a yearly basis. However, every battery has a limit and you don't want to find yourself in a fire with a dead smoke detector. There is nothing inherently wrong with battery-powered smoke detectors, but you have to be absolutely vigilant about replacing spent batteries.
The alternative to battery-powered smoke detectors are hard-wired detectors. As their name implies, these detectors are wired straight into your home's electrical system. Generally speaking, this method of supplying power to the entire network of smoke detectors is much more reliable and requires less maintenance. Best of all, while these detectors still require batteries, batteries are not the primary power source.
In Massachusetts, homes built between and must have hard-wired interconnected smoke detectors outside the bedrooms and one detector per floor. Smoke detectors, no matter the type, are your first line of defense against fires. Despite that, many homeowners tends to neglect them. Just by regularly replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors , you are greatly reducing your chances of becoming a victim of a house fire.
If you really want to stay on top of this issue, we strongly suggest that you install hard-wired smoke detectors in your next remodeling project. There is much more to smoke detectors than most homeowners think. The truth is, even in brand new buildings and houses, smoke detection systems can be poorly designed and less effective.
Your responsibility as a homeowner or tenant is to ensure that you have adequate smoke detector coverage. Investing in this safety measure will pay back in dividends if you end up experiencing a house fire. We are located about 10 minutes walk from Park St Station. We are open Monday — Friday am — pm. For additional questions you can call us at or you can find us on Trustpilot.
Referral Program Billing Request Service. If your home was built after the 1 May , you are required by law to interconnect your smoke alarms. Page Content. Installing smoke alarms Types of smoke alarms Smoke alarm maintenance Preventing false alarms Changing your smoke alarm batteries Smoke alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing Legislative requirements Types of smoke alarms Ionisation and photoelectric smoke alarms There are two main types of smoke alarms for home use: ionisation and photoelectric.
We recommend you install photoelectric smoke alarms in your home. Mains powered or battery operated smoke alarms Smoke alarms connected to volt mains power known as mains powered smoke alarms are required in residential homes: Newly built since Having undergone significant renovations since Sold since October Made available for rent or hire.
In all other homes we recommend the installation of mains powered smoke alarms as they are more reliable. All mains powered smoke alarms must be installed by a qualified electrical contractor. Test button This allows you to check the alarm is working.
Hush button Pressing this button silences nuisance alarms for a few minutes — handy if you've burnt the toast and set off the alarm, as it gives you some quiet while the smoke dissipates. Expiry date A visible expiry date is handy as all smoke alarms have a maximum 10 year service life. For carbon monoxide detectors, we test them against low CO levels at parts per million and high CO levels at ppm. We also test the accuracy of their carbon monoxide measurements if they offer readings through a digital display or audio announcements.
Combination detectors go through both sets of tests. All these test results are then folded into our comprehensive smoke and carbon monoxide detector ratings. You can find standalone smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in smart and non-internet-connected forms. All three detector types offer standalone and interconnected varieties. Few combination detectors are effective at detecting carbon monoxide, smoldering fires, and flaming fires, which is why we recommend that consumers use a combination of detectors in their homes for complete protection.
Fires burn differently: Some flare, some smolder. Ionization smoke detectors are best at detecting the small particles typical of fast, flaming fires. But in our tests, all tested poorly for detecting smoky, smoldering fires. Photoelectric smoke detectors are best at detecting the large particles typical of smoky, smoldering fires but poor at detecting fast, flaming fires. Photoelectric units are less prone to false alarms from burnt food, so they may be a better fit in kitchen areas.
Dual-sensor smoke detectors combine ionization and photoelectric technology to detect both flaming and smoldering fires, offering you the best protection and saving you the hassle of installing two separate smoke detectors.
But you may still need to install carbon monoxide detectors, if appropriate for your home. Carbon monoxide detectors use sensors to detect the presence of CO in your home. Some models include digital displays to show the level of CO they detect, and some can read out the CO level via audio messages.
Remember, carbon monoxide detectors do not detect smoke or explosive gases, such as natural gas, propane, and methane. Combination detectors incorporate ionization or photoelectric technologies a few use both and carbon monoxide detection to protect against both smoke and CO. Both conventional not internet-connected and smart models are available.
Smart detectors offer additional features through a companion smartphone app. Some models connect to the internet via WiFi; others require an additional bridge or hub, which are standalone devices that connect smart home products to the internet. Smoke detectors are a must in all homes, and carbon monoxide detectors are needed for any home with fuel-burning appliances, such as a furnace, water heater, range, cooktop, or grill. Even those living in all-electric homes should install carbon monoxide detectors because CO can seep into the house from an attached garage or if a backup generator is used too close to your living quarters during a power outage.
You should also have a carbon monoxide detector on each living level, outside each sleeping area, in the basement, and near not inside an attached garage. Use the illustration below as a guide to where you need detectors, and tally up the number of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors you need to buy.
Keep in mind that your home might need more or fewer detectors, depending on its size and number of rooms. Check Local Regulations Before you shop, check regulations in your area. Also, some insurance companies offer a discount for homes with smoke detectors. Look for the UL stamp on any smoke alarm. Dual smoke alarms combine ionization and photoelectric sensor systems to enhance home safety.
Recent research has shown that the standard ionization alarms have been unreliable in multiple tests of slow, smoky fires. Ionization alarm perform best in fast flaming fires. A combo unit is considered to provide greatest overall safety in either situation. Smoke particles change the electrical balance of the air. The alarm will sound when the change in electrical balance reaches a preset level. Photoelectric smoke alarms use a beam of light and a light sensor.
0コメント