Installing Smoke Alarms Could Kill You

In recognition of National Fire Safety month during October thousands of fire fighters will be giving away free smoke detectors for the home. Unfortunately, it's these very same smoke alarms that are handed out during fire safety month that have cause thousands of people to fall victim to deadly fires within the home. Installing smoke alarms in the wrong place, improperly, or the wrong type of smoke alarm could be a matter of life and death in the event of a house fire!

There are two basic types of smoke detectors that are commonly used in the home. An ionization smoke detector detects smoke through ionization of tiny molecules. Unfortunately, these are the type of smoke detectors that are handed out at the fire department during National Fire Safety month and these are the most deadly type of smoke alarms. The reason that these smoke alarms are deadly is because they do not detect the most harmful type of smoke. Thick black smoke that is full of harmful gasses that can kill you can pass right through these detectors without ever actually setting the alarm off!

In addition to these smoke alarms not responding to deadly smoke, they often will be placed in areas of the home in which they have so many false alarms that homeowners will eventually take the batteries out, disconnect the smoke detector and not use it at all because they get sick of the false alarms. This is another reason that these smoke alarms can kill you! A smoke alarm that has multiple false alarms and causes you--the homeowner--to disconnect the alarm is the most deadly type of smoke alarm that you can have!

Another type of smoke alarm known as a photo-electric detector senses smoke uses a light source and a photo cell to reflect smoke particles in the event of a fire. These smoke detectors are far safer than a ionic smoke alarm but they still do not provide ultimate fire protection. A common mistake that many homeowners make is thinking that photo-electric smoke detectors will alert you in the event of a fire but these types of smoke detectors cannot be placed in the deadliest areas of the home--the kitchen, laundry room, furnace area, garage and attic--because they will result in many false alarms. Another deadly mistake--thinking that you are safe just because you have smoke alarms in every room of the home!

Heat sensors are needed to provide ultimate protection throughout the entire home. Smoke alarms should be used in every bedroom, living area, and hallway of the home and heat detectors should be used in all areas of the home where fire burns the hottest--the kitchen, laundry room, furnace area, garage and attic. A combination of both or these types of fire protection will assure that you are safe during a house fire and have time to get out!