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Smoke detectors — be in the know

Detectors and alarm options have increased, so make sure you have what you need

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Detectors save lives — approximately 2,500 people are killed each year in residential fires, and another 500 die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings, a colorless, odorless gas that's known as the “silent killer.” We need to cut down that number. Installing smoke and CO alarms throughout your home is the first step toward staying safe.

In my opinion, every home should have smoke and CO alarms — you need alarms that detect flaming and smoldering fires for each bedroom, with at least one set on each level, including the attic and basement. You should also have a CO alarm on each living level, in the basement, and near (not inside) an attached garage.

You can buy smoke and CO alarms at hardware stores or online. Check the package to make sure they meet Underwriters Laboratories Standard. Look up the date of manufacture on the back of the alarms; they expire and detectors can lose their sensitivity over time, so the fresher, the better.

Types of smoke and flame detectors

Ionization smoke sensors detect the small particles typical of fast, flaming fires, but all were poor at detecting smoky, smoldering fires. Ionization units are generally prone to false alarms from burnt food and steam; so don't mount them near a kitchen or bath.

Photoelectric smoke sensors detect the large particles typical of smoky, smoldering fires, but all were poor at detecting fast, flaming fires. Photoelectric units are less prone to false alarms from burnt food and steam, so you can use them around the kitchen or bath.

Dual-sensor smoke alarms

These combine ionization and photoelectric technology to save you the hassle of installing two separate smoke detectors. But you'll still need separate CO units.

CO alarms

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas. A detector is often the only way to know you have a CO incident. Detectors read CO concentrations in parts per million, over different durations.

Combination smoke/CO alarms

These can detect smoke as well as CO. Normally a combination CO, and an ionization or photoelectric smoke sensor, but not both

Power source

Hard-wired smoke and CO alarms tie into your home's wiring and require professional installation; they normally have a battery backup. Battery-only alarms are simple to install, and they work during a power failure, but most batteries require often replacement. Plug-in outlet CO detectors are common — I wouldn’t recommend outlet smoke detectors because they usually sit low on a wall, and the preferred location of a smoke detector is high on a wall or the ceiling. All detectors have low battery indicators, be sure not to confuse the low battery indicator with an emergency.

Interconnectability

You can link some smoke and CO alarms so that all go on when any one is triggered. Interconnected alarms all sound simultaneously when any one is triggered. Thus, they can warn you of a fire or CO leak in the basement when you're asleep upstairs, or vice versa.

Additional features

Digital CO displays the number of CO PPM it is detecting, if levels are increasing or is higher than usual. They normally also let you know if it is a power issue or malfunction. Strobe lights are the best warning for the hearing impaired. Some use a voice command. Children tend to sleep deeper than adults and may not awaken to a beeping sound.

Proper installation and maintenance are critical

As we discussed all detectors are not the same. Closely follow the instructions in the owner's manuals. A few rules of thumb: Smoke rises, so mount smoke alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall. To avoid false alarms, don't mount ionization smoke alarms in the kitchen, where burnt toast might set them off, or near sources of steam such as a bathroom or laundry room. Don't install CO units in the kitchen or near any cooking appliance, in the garage, or near the furnace or water heater. And avoid breezy areas-around fans, vents, air conditioners, doors, and open windows, where fresh air can cause a misleadingly low CO reading. Keep CO alarms out of direct sunlight.

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