Close to half of all Home Fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

You should change the batteries in your smoke alarms at the very least twice a year, and test them once every month. Something you may not have known, however, is exactly what type of smoke alarms you have? Or if having one kind, as opposed to another, can make a difference in getting you and your family to safety in a home fire?

There are basically two smoke alarm types, and each has a sensor that detects smoke and fire differently depending on the origin of the fire.

Ionization vs. Photoelectric Smoke Alarms

The most common of the two smoke alarm types are Ionization alarms. They are generally better at detecting to a flaming fire (a towel getting ignited on the stove), and provide adequate detection to many homeowners. In order to detect smoke in the air, these alarms use “ions,” or electrically charged particles. Due to how inexpensive they are, ionization detectors are the most commonly found smoke alarms in American homes.

The other type of smoke detector is the Photoelectric smoke alarm. In these detectors, a light beam is used to detect the presence of smoke. These alarm types are more effective at alerting when a fire originates from a smoldering source (a lit cigarette falling between couch cushions). A home can fill with dangerous gases before a fire ever erupts with a smoldering fire.

SkyCover Home Security & Automation lets you add a Wireless Photoelectric Smoke Detector to ALL plans we offer. For as little as $29.99 per month, you and your home will be set to detect any fire that tries to invade your home.

Maintenance Is A Must, With Either One

Knowing the type of smoke alarm that is installed in your home is helpful, but smoke detectors will not detect any fires or alert you of one in your home if they are not working properly.

A recent study suggests that:

• 20% of homes have smoke detectors that do not work or are missing batteries.
• 2/3 of reported residential fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke alarms, or with no smoke alarms at all.
• Close to half of all Home Fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Having a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying in a reported fire by 50%

Tips

• Make sure you have the right number of smoke alarms in the right places.
• The National Fire Protection Association recommends a smoke detector in each and every bedroom.
• Smoke detectors outside of each separate sleeping area.
• Install Smoke Detectors on every level of your home. (Reminder: smoke rises, install smoke detectors high on walls).
• Add reminders to your family calendar to swap out the batteries on each smoke detector at least once a year.
• Perform tests on all Smoke Detectors Monthly.

If a fire does invade your home, smoke spreads fast and the help of smoke alarms will give you time to get out. SkyCover Home Security & Automation can help you better alert you and your family with our suite of Automation Controls. By adding a Wireless Smoke Detector to your existing Security & Automation system you will receive alerts (on your Smart Phone, PC, or Tablet: as it happens) when there is a fire detected.

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A Safer and More Secure Home Is Only a Click Away.

Your home should be your safe-haven, a place that you are at peace. If you do not feel safe, then SkyCover Home Security & Automation can help you get a better Peace of Mind. Check out our Home Security and Automation packages, that will help you better secure your home and family, and also take a look at how easy it is to turn your home into a SMART home.