I can help you make sure that your fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms are in good working order and placed in the correct location to be effective.
Smoke Alarms – types and placement
Protect yourself and your family by installing and maintaining working smoke alarms (detectors) in your home. This information can help you select the appropriate alarms, and install them in the correct locations in your home.
Choosing smoke alarms for your home
Always look for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) mark on any smoke alarm you purchase.
There are two types of smoke alarms available.
* Ionization alarms react more quickly to open, flaming fires and are less expensive.
* Photoelectric alarms react to smoldering fires and are less likely to react to cooking fires.
For more complete protection, consider purchasing an alarm that combines both detection technologies.
Alarms can be powered by batteries or by your home's electrical system.
* Battery-powered models vary greatly based on the battery testing method, the battery changing method, and when the unit sounds an alarm for a low battery.
* Hard-wired models are wired directly into the home's electrical and/or security system and may have a battery back-up to provide power in the event of an outage.
Installing Smoke Alarms in the Right Place
Where you place the smoke alarms in your home is as important as how you maintain them. Be sure to place them where everyone in the home can hear them:
* Outside each sleeping area.
* Inside any bedroom where the door is typically shut.
* On every level (floor) of your home, including the basement.
Smoke Alarm Products and Features
These smoke alarms, test kits and batteries can help to make your home fire-safe.
Basic Smoke Alarm
Smoke and fire alarms have a variety of special safety and convenience features such as a "hush" button for non-emergency alarms or hinged battery cover for easier battery replacement. $8 - $30
Smoke Alarm with Strobe
This model includes a strobe light that flashes nearly 60 times per minute. Some models include loud alarms (85 to 90 decibels). Both features are useful for hearing-impaired individuals. $82 - $205
Smoke Alarm with Vibration
This unit transmits an alarm signal to a device that vibrates your bed or chair to warn of a fire. $232 - $286
Smoke Alarm with Escape Light
A super-bright escape light turns on automatically when the smoke alarm sounds.
$19 - $28
Smoke Alarm with Remote Control Silencing and Testing Feature
This design enables you to test your smoke alarm using any remote control device in your home, eliminating the need to stand on a stool. A remote control also can be used to silence nuisance activations such as those caused by cooking. $25
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm
This combination alarm alerts you to the presence of both smoke and high levels of carbon monoxide. $35 - $65
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm — Talking
Some smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have voice alarms that warn "Fire! Fire!" when they detect smoke and "Warning! Carbon Monoxide" when they detect high levels of carbon monoxide. These models offer greater safety for visually impaired individuals. Some units also offer a large strobe light adaptation for the deaf and hearing impaired. $60
Smoke Check™ Smoke Alarm Tester — Spray
Use this UL-listed spray to test the smoke alarm without having to stand on a stool or ladder to reach the alarm. $5
Long-Life Lithium Battery
Using a lithium battery in a smoke alarm offers extended protection and requires less frequent changing of the battery. This battery is ideal if you find it difficult to reach the smoke alarm. $7
Inclusion of a product on this web site does not constitute a product endorsement or warranty by me. The information is provided as a service to consumers. No product is completely resistant to fire. You are advised to evaluate for yourself the appropriateness of any product listed here. Use products only as they are intended to be used and read and follow manufacturers' instructions and warnings. Guarantees for performance expectations, durability, flame retardancy or resistance, or other characteristics of the products specified here are assumed by the manufacturer and not by me.