I'm often asked what type of smoke detectors should one have in the home, and what are the best types to warn me of a fire? My answer for many years has been, for the most part, it's a good idea just to have working smoke detectors, have them on each level of the home, change the battery when the clocks turn ahead or back that hour during Fall & Spring, and test them monthly. Actually I like it when the clocks are turned back in the Fall because there’s an extra hour of sleep. To me though, for many years, a smoke detector was a smoke detector. All smoke detectors are not the same. Did you know that?
Anyone that has read my blog here at TFPFP and followed me @FiremanRich on Twitter and read my tweets will see I'm a strong advocate of smoke detectors. With that, by providing the best information on smoke detectors/alarms only makes sense when it comes to the protection of life when ever possible.
There are basically two types of smoke detectors, that being the ionization smoke detectors and the photoelectric smoke detectors.
Ionization Smoke Detectors are devices that sound an alarm when smoke reduces the electric current within the unit. An ionization detector also picks up both visible and invisible particles from smoke and fire. This type of smoke detector is good for detecting quick burning fires.
Photoelectric Smoke Detectors are devices where there is a tiny beam of light within the unit. The alarm sounds when that beam becomes blocked by smoke particles. This type of smoke detector is good for detecting slow smoldering fires a lot faster.
There are also smoke detectors that that you can purchase that combine the methods used in both the ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors.
The right kind of smoke detector could save your life and the lives of your family.
In most home fires, a slow smoldering will release a little bit of smoke over hours. National fire statics will show that most fatal home fires happen between 8pm to 8 am and it’s not the fire that kills it’s the smoke produced by the fire that kills. It is important to have the best smoke detector protection to ensure you have the extra warning time for the time to get yourself and family out if need be to safety.
The following YouTube: “Different smoke detectors work with different fires” gives a very good look at the differences between Ionization and Photoelectric smoke detectors and the types of fires they can detect . . .
It’s a good idea to have the best protection you can have in the home.
If you already have the ionization type smoke detectors then increase your home protection by buying the photoelectric types and install them next to those ionization one. If you have the photoelectric types already in the home then buy and install the ionization ones in addition to the photoelectric type.
Now for me, my smoke detectors which are the ionization type are about 10 years old and will be replaced. Any home smoke detector should be replaced with new ones every ten years. With the age of my home smoke alarms I’ll be purchasing the ionization/photoelectric combination type smoke detectors to continue the protection of my family from fire in the home. Also, with the recently passed New York State law that was passed last month that every home will have CO2 Alarms in the home, I’ve purchased several CO2 detectors for my home too. Not because it’s the law but because it’s a good idea but most important it now gives my family the best home fire safety protection. It’s being “Fire Safety Wise.”
Smoke detectors, as well as CO2 detectors are our early warning system in the home to warn us of the deadly smoke & gases that are present during a fire. It is important that the battery in these detectors get changed out every six months with a new battery and that smoke alarms are checked/tested monthly.
Daylight Savings Time is upon us and with it the coming of the Spring. Lets spring into action, change out the batteries in our smoke & CO2 detectors. If you need new detectors then purchase new ones.
Time is of the essence when there’s a fire in the home. With total coverage of the home with working and tested combination ionization/photoelectric smoke detectors, as well as CO2 alarms you will have those extra minutes of warning to exit and get out of the home if there is a fire. Hopefully by practicing fire safety and following fire prevention practices you may never have a fire. Learn not to burn, be fire safe.
The National Fire Protection Association estimates that about one-third of all residential smoke detectors in the United States do not work properly. To make sure you don't have one of those malfunctioning units, follow these useful tips:· Test your detector - Experts recommend that you should run a test of every detector in your house anywhere from once a week to once a month. All units should have an easily-accessible test button.
· Check your batteries! - You should check your batteries every six months, and change them every year. A good rule of thumb is to check the batteries when you turn your clocks ahead in the spring, and then change the batteries when you turn your clocks back in the fall. If a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you.
· Don't ignore false alarms! - Smoke detectors don't just sound for no reason. If your unit seems to have more than its share of unfounded false alarms, replace it.
· Keep your detectors clean - At least once a year, vacuum or blow out any dust that might accumulate inside the unit and in the slats on the outside cover.
· NEVER borrow a battery - NEVER borrow a battery from an alarm to use somewhere else. You might forget to replace it, or the battery might get worn down faster from the other appliance.
· NEVER paint a smoke detector - Painting a unit can block the vents in the cover, preventing smoke from getting to the sensors.
· Replace your smoke detectors - Replace your smoke detectors every ten years.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; this is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
