Answering Common Questions About Smoke Alarms

9/16/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms can mean life or death for you and your family.

You probably know how important it is to have at least one smoke alarm in your Benton, AR home.

Yet you may have many questions about purchasing and maintaining your detectors. Below are answers to some common queries.

What Types of Smoke Detectors Should You Buy?
There are three main types of smoke detectors. They are:

1. Photoelectric
2. Ionization
3. Dual sensor

Photoelectric and ionization alarms each sense different types of fires. Dual-sensor detectors, meanwhile, include both ionization and photoelectric sensors. Ideally, you should place either one dual-sensor alarm or both photoelectric and ionization alarms near every bedroom in your home.
Make sure that the detectors are connected. This way, they will all go off at the same time. There are also special alarms available for those who are hearing impaired.

How Much Do Smoke Alarms Cost?
A smoke alarm is a cheap way to keep your family safe. Photoelectric and ionization detectors cost as little as six dollars. Dual-sensor alarms, meanwhile, are just $24. Your local fire department may even provide free or low-cost detectors for your home.

How Do You Maintain Smoke Detectors?
You need to regularly check each smoke detector in your home to see if it is functioning properly. Ideally, you should test the alarms each month.
Alarms that are hardwired into your home or that rely on a nine-volt battery should be replaced every 10 years. You should also change the batteries at least once a year.
Some smoke detectors now come with a 10-year lithium battery. Check the manufacturer's instructions to see how often you should replace these alarms.

Of course, a smoke alarm does not always prevent home fires. It simply tells you when a blaze is occurring so you can escape your house safely. Therefore, even if you install numerous detectors, your property could still sustain fire damage. That is why local emergency restoration specialists are available to assist with the cleanup.