Why your Smoke Alarm is not enough for Fire Protection

​In lieu of #fireprevention week lets discuss why your smoke alarm isn’t enough when it comes to fire protection for your home. When considering alarms for fire protection, it’s important to identify the difference between a smoke alarm and a monitored smoke detector.

A smoke alarm (120-volt) you can pick up at any local
​improvement store when you move into a home. How it works: the alarm will go off at the presence of smoke and if it is tripped, it will alert you that there is smoke in the home and will continue to go off until turned off by you. If a fire is present, it is also your responsibility to call the fire department (911).

Another point to remember is that should the power go out, the life of the alarm is determined solely by the battery. If that battery is faulty, it will not work. If the detector has lost most of its power, there is no telling how long the battery will last. In most cases, homeowners forget to test their batteries occasionally and change them as needed. This can be a major problem in your home’s fire protection.

Relying on a 120 volt- smoke alarm has another major disadvantage and that is that it is not supervised (monitored). The smoke alarm cannot identify where the location of the smoke or fire is and where it was activated for detection. Should a fire arise, all it will do is give you an alert – the fire department will not be called.

Why a monitored smoke detector is the right way to go for fire protection for your home…

Having a monitored smoke detector has an advantage that the normal smoke alarm 120-volt does not, and that is that the monitored fire and smoke detector is connected to your alarm system with Wired Out Cabling & Security and by our monitoring partner Rapid Response (central station). Should smoke be detected or a fire, a signal is sent instantly to you via your smartphone app and you have the ability to notify central station to call for the local fire department. Another plus is that the monitored smoke detector can send you a signal indicating that either your detector is functioning on a back-up battery or that its lost its power. The advantage: Monitored smoke detectors are connected to your security alarm system later to enhance fire protection.

A monitored smoke detector gives you the security in knowing that central station knows instantly that an alarm has been triggered and exactly the location of the fire, for instance. As the monitoring company, Wired Out Cabling & Security can provide proper and accurate information to the fire department when dispatching them to your home. This can help save your home and your valued belongings.

Increase in false smoke alarms vs. a monitored smoke detectors

Often times smoke alarms (120volt) are tripped, this could be because of it’s placement close to the kitchen when something is burning on the stove or even extra smoke from cooking in the air. In most cases homeowners will disengage the alarm forgetting to put it back on and if something should happen, well then, the alert will not go off.

With a professional smoke detector installed by Wired Out Cabling & Security the detector would be monitored by a professional company and should a false alarm happen, you can easily release the alert. Wired Out can also advise you on the best placements for your smoke detector alarms. Sometimes a heat detector is a better resource to use.

Want to learn more about monitored smoke detectors?

Keep your home and family safe with a fire alarm don't take a chance with not being covered properly by your home’s fire protection. Wired Out Cabling and Security can work with you on creating the best plan for your home.

If you have smoke alarms that are three to five years old, you may want to consider replacing them. If they are more than 10 years old, then it is time to replace those detectors with something up to date. Consider adding monitored smoke detectors and/or heat detectors to your alarm security system.

If you have any questions about your smoke detectors or need recommendations, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 518-629-5025 for a free consultation and quote!