What's the deal with Smoke Alarms?
Smoke alarms are often the first line of defense against a home fire. When they detect flames and smoke, they alert anyone inside the home that danger is mounting.
How does a Smoke Alarm Works?
- Ionization sensors detect fast burning fires by reacting to the smoke and fire’s disruption of electricity in the air. The unit contains a small, safe amount of a radioactive element called Americium that electrically charges (or ionizes) air molecules between two metal plates, keeping a constant electric current flowing within the unit. When smoke and fire particles infiltrate the air, they attract ions away from that space between the plates, reducing the electric current. When the current is reduced below a certain level, the alarm is triggered, alerting occupants that smoke and fire are mounting.
- Photoelectric sensors detect slower, smoldering fire using a light beam inside the sensor’s chamber. This light beam reflects off of smoke and fire particles in the air, giving the sensor visible feedback when too many particles are present, triggering the alarm. When no particles are present, the light from the beam does not reflect back on the sensor, meaning the air is clear.
Why Think of it like this: Ionization sensors can feel the fire, and Photoelectric sensors can see it.
Why Should I Get and Maintain Smoke Alarms in My Home?
According to the National Fire Protection Agency, occupants of a home without smoke alarms are nearly twice as likely to die in a fire than occupants of a home with smoke alarms. Once a detector senses a fire, occupants have about three minutes to escape the home, so the sooner they hear the alarm, the better.
Which Smoke Alarm Should I Get?
USI’s portfolio has both Ionization and photoelectric alarms. Both technologies can detect both kinds of fire, but each is better attuned to catch one type quicker than the other. It’s important, therefore, to think about where you’re placing your alarms.
- Ionization detectors are designed to sense fast flames caused by things like paper, gas, and grease, and so are best placed near the kitchen or the garage where those fast-combusting materials are plentiful.
- Photoelectric detectors are designed to sense slower, smoldering flames with thicker smoke like those that overtake furniture and so are best placed in living rooms and bedrooms.
Power Source is also an important consideration. Smoke alarms can be hardwired or battery operated, and each has its own benefits.
- Hardwired detectors plug into your home’s existing electrical system and can interconnect with other hardwired detectors in your home so that every area of the house can be alerted at once when a fire starts. These will also have back-up battery power in case of an electrical outage.
- Battery operated detectors are great for a quicker installation and can be mounted in places where hardwire hookups have not been built. They’re great additions in homes that do not have enough hardwire hookups – you can never have too many alarms in your home.
Mutli-function detectors are a great option to make sure you have every protection you need in every area of the home.
- 2-in-1 Smoke & Fire Alarm uses Sensing Plus Multi-Criteria Detection that detects both slow-smoldering smoke and fast-burning fires with greater accuracy, providing double protection in your home.
- 3-in-1 Smoke, Fire, & Carbon Monoxide Alarms offer a compact solution with triple protection ideal for placement in any room.
Select USI Alarms also come with extra functions to optimize your experience:
- False Alarm Resistance reduces nuisance alarms from activities like cooking
- End-of-Life Alerts remind you to replace your alarm system after 10 years
- Hardwired alarms are equipped with backup batteries for uninterrupted protection even in the event of a power failure
- Dust and Paint Covers are included for easy maintenance during construction or renovations
- Voice Alerts replace annoying chirps with simple reminders
- Easy Test / Silence Button quickly silences the alarm if accidentally activated
For over 50 years, USI has led the way in home safety innovation and provided unmatched protection. We know the importance of having these alarms in your home, testing them regularly, and replacing them every ten years. House fires don’t have to be deadly, and your best defense is a smoke alarm.
