Smoke Detector Install House Fire

Your smoke detector is one of the most critical components in your home because it lets you know that something is wrong and you have to vacate your home immediately. Without a smoke detector, you are putting yourself at great risk, and if a fire does occur inside your house, there is a chance you won’t realize it until it is too late.

The same could be said for an improperly installed smoke detector, as these devices must be placed in the correct parts of the home and replaced often to maximize their efficiency.

There are two types of smoke detectors on the market, hard-wired and battery-powered, that you can select from depending on your needs. If you would like to have your detectors hard-wired right into your electrical system, give Hunt’s Services a call at 253-533-7500 and we can handle the job for you.

By trusting Hunt’s Services with this important job, you can be confident that your smoke detectors are installed correctly and that you’ll be alerted if there is a fire inside your home before it is too late for you to react.

Benefits of Hard Wired Smoke Detectors

Many homeowners opt for battery-powered fire alarms in their home. While there is nothing wrong with these units on the surface, there are some benefits to having a hard-wired smoke detector installed in your house.

The first benefit is that electric units won’t run out of battery power. Therefore, you aren’t continually at the mercy of the batteries in the device, changing them every few months and hoping the batteries are still functional. Since electric smoke detectors use the home’s electricity, you can be sure that they always have power running to them. Keep in mind that these units have battery back-ups, just in case the power goes out in your house.

Secondly, hard-wired smoke detectors are more accurate than battery-powered units. Contemporary models pick up on both smoke and heat, so you will be alerted earlier and will have more time to get out of the house. Fewer false alarms take place with electric units than with battery units, as well, because electric detectors are more accurate.

Finally, all of the electric smoke detectors in the home are linked together, so if one goes off, they all go off. This link is beneficial in large houses because it means the alarm in the basement will sound if there is a fire on the top floor, ensuring everyone throughout the building knows there is danger present.

Information on Smoke Detectors

Before going through with your smoke detector installation, there are some things you should be aware of, so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.

For starters, you should know that there are two different types of smoke detectors: photoelectric and ionization. Photoelectric alarms are more responsive to fires with large particles. Generally, this means they’ll do a better job of identifying slower moving fires on beds or other furniture. Ionization smoke detectors are better at finding small particles, which are usually found in the kitchen. You can also invest in a dual sensor smoke detector, which uses both of these technologies.

Figuring out where to install your smoke detectors is very important because they should be in the locations you need them most. Generally, you’ll want to have your alarms placed inside of every bedroom in the house, outside of each sleeping area, and just outside the kitchen. Having one on every floor of the house is also a good idea. Larger homes require more smoke detectors because, remember, the important thing is early detection, so you’ll want an alarm as close to potential fire zones as possible.

Taking Care of Your Smoke Detectors

Once Hunt’s Services has installed your smoke detectors, make sure you take proper care of the devices. For starters, never paint your smoke detectors, as this could cause them to malfunction. You’ll also want to test them at least once a month to ensure they are working accurately. Running this test only takes a few seconds, but it could save your life.

It is very crucial to replace your smoke detector at least every ten years. This rule is in place because their performance degrades significantly once they reach the ten-year mark. In most models, the sensor inside the device degrades at a rate of about 3% per year. Therefore, ten years after the unit was built, it could have a 30% failure rate. You might even want to replace your smoke detector sooner, but you can ask Hunt’s Services for advice on this matter.

Don’t install your smoke detector near a window, door, fan, vent, air register, or light fixture. All of these components could cause false alarms, and once you start hearing false alarms, it could lead to complacency. You’ll also want to keep your units out of corners, away from the peak of your roof, and off sloped ceilings.

These are all issues that Hunt’s Services can help you with because our team of certified electricians knows just where to install your smoke detectors to give the best possible results.

Trust Hunt’s Services

Since smoke detectors are such vital devices, you’ll want to be positive that yours are installed properly and that each one is in the ideal position. Too many people simply throw up a battery-powered smoke detector in one room of their home and believe they are protected, but this isn’t true.

Smoke detectors should be everywhere in your home, especially if you have children that you will have to assist out of the house if there is a fire because the sooner you are aware of the problem, the more time you have to react.

Give Hunt’s Services a call at 253-533-7500 to discuss your current smoke alarm situation and to determine if an upgrade would be beneficial to your property. Hunt’s team of electricians is standing by and ready to work on your fire alarms, so that you can keep your family as safe as possible.

Smoke Detector Installation

Benefits of Hard Wired Smoke Detectors

Information on Smoke Detectors

Taking Care of Your Smoke Detectors

Trust Hunt’s Services