Where Do I Install My New Smoke Alarms?

6/4/2022 (Permalink)

Types of Smoke Detectors

Whether you're building a new home or need to revamp your current home-safety system, choosing a good smoke alarm and knowing where to install it is necessary. There are two basic types of detectors: ionization and photoelectric. They not only detect smoke differently but also detect some types of fires more quickly than others. Understanding how they work and where they work best will help you protect your family, home and possessions from harm.

How They Work

An ionization smoke detector uses a small amount of radioactive material to cause ions to be released, creating a current between the metal plates on either side of the material. Flaming, aggressive fires send up thick smoke that quickly disrupts the current and trips the alarm. Though ionization models also detect finer smoke particles, a photoelectric detector senses smoke from smoldering flames earlier. It uses light to detect smoke; when smoke particles block the interior light, an alarm goes off. If you want to create the best fire safety plan possible, use both types of alarms in your home.

Where They Should Go

At a minimum, you should have one smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every floor including the basement. Since many house fires start in the kitchen, it is good to have a detector there, and if you have a fireplace anywhere in your home, install one in that room as well. Finally, if you use gas or oil to heat your home, make sure to have a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector near the furnace and on every level. You can purchase wired-in or battery-operated smoke detectors; both are effective, though battery-operated ones require regular battery changes to ensure they're working properly.
Sadly, almost every home in the United States has had some kind of fire or smoke-related damage at one time or another. If there is evidence of damage in your home, a fire remediation service in Seneca, MO can inspect every smoke alarm, repair damages, clean the area and remove any residual odors that are present.