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Having working smoke alarms installed properly in the right locations in your home can be the difference between everyone getting out safely in the event of a fire and unfortunate tragedy. When installing smoke detectors, be sure that they bear the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home for optimum safety and, for the best possible protection, interconnect all smoke alarms.

Modern smoke alarms can be interconnected via hard wiring or wireless technology and because when one alarm sounds in an interconnected system, all alarms sound, an interconnected system is the safest possible system. Another thing to keep in mind is that there are two types of smoke alarms – ionization and photoelectric. Ionization smoke alarms are better at detecting flaming fires and photoelectric are better at detecting smoldering fires, so having both types of alarms in your home – or choosing dual sensor alarms, will increase your safety. Smoke alarms should be installed in rooms that see the most use, such as living rooms or dens and also near stairways leading to other levels.

It’s also recommended to install smoke detectors inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area. Remember to keep smoke detectors at least 10 feet from cooking appliances to minimize false alarms while cooking and also to mount detectors high on walls or ceilings. If you’re mounting smoke detectors on walls, be sure that they’re no more than 12” away from the ceiling. If your home has pitched ceilings, install the smoke detector within 3 feet of the peak but not within the apex (four inches down from the peak).

Remember: A smoke alarm not used can’t save you or your families life.

Making sure to routinely test your smoke detectors and change batteries at regular intervals will ensure that, if the time comes, the smoke detectors in your home can alert you and your family in the event of a fire so everyone can get to safety. If it’s time to upgrade or install smoke detectors in your home, consult with Advanced Lock and Security. We have years of experience with the latest smoke detector technology and can help you come up with a plan to keep your entire family safe.