Smoke detectors are small devices that are designed to detect the presence of smoke in your home. The sizes and shapes of different models vary a great deal, depending on the manufacturer, but they all serve the same essential function. They let you know if there is an alarming amount of smoke in your home.
Some Basic Information
Smoke detectors most often function through the use of battery power. It is not a good idea to have one that is wired into your electrical system simply because it would fail to work should the power go out. However, many newer homes, as well as some recently remodeled ones, have smoke detectors that operate on an electrical and battery backup system. These are perfectly safe and reliable.
You should install smoke detectors on ceilings or high on a wall because smoke rises. You should not, however, install your detectors within six inches of where the ceiling and wall meet. This is considered to be a dead air space because it just doesn't get much circulation.
It is important that you test your detectors at least annually to make sure that they are in proper working order. You should also replace the batteries each year, even if they appear to still be functioning efficiently. This is important because you want to ensure that you always have fresh batteries in your smoke detectors. You don't want to risk having them fail should a fire occur in your home.
Smoke alarms are considered to be quite reliable by experts, assuming that the units are maintained properly and are kept in good working order. They are effective enough that they provide people with enough warning of a fire that they have the time to get out of their homes uninjured in most cases.
It is important to keep in mind that most fire related deaths occur at night while people are sleeping. This is what makes having properly installed smoke alarms are so important. Smoke alarms are considered to be so important by fire and insurance officials that they are actually a requirement in most states throughout America.
The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, recommends that people install a smoke detector outside of each sleeping area in their home. In addition, it is recommended that they be installed on every level of your home, including basements and attics.
If any member of your family is hearing impaired, you should also install a detector inside that person's room just to be sure that he or she can hear it should a fire occur.
The Different Types of Smoke Detectors
There are two basic types of residential smoke detectors: photoelectric and ionization.
Photoelectric smoke detectors are designed to detect smoke particles that are large enough to be detected, or seen, by the unit. They are activated when smoke particles block the path of the beam of light inside the detector.
Ionization smoke detectors are capable of detecting both visible and invisible particles of smoke. The presence of smoke effectively reduces an electric current which runs inside the smoke detector, thus setting it off and alerting you to danger.
Both of these types of smoke detectors are believed to offer enough protection to give you ample warning to get out of your home. One is really not recommended or preferred over the other. As long as you purchase smoke detectors that are NFPA approved, you should be able to feel confident that you have a system that will provide an adequate warning should a fire occur within your home.
Pamella Neely writes about how to choose a log cabin kit and modular log cabins.
