Smoke Detectors

A number of everyday household activities and circumstances trigger false alarms in smoke detectors. Properly plotting installation locations for these life-saving devices keeps smoke detectors...

Several factors cause false alarms in smoke detectors. Careful planning and positioning of smoke alarms prevent most such nuisances. The two main types of smoke detectors on the...

Ionized alarms and photoelectric technology alarms work slightly differently. Ionization technology tends to be better for detecting small particles, which are common in flaming fires....

Smoke alarms can save lives by alerting people to fires in their homes while there is still time to evacuate the house safely. Because of the proven effectiveness of these devices, there are...

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, a functioning smoke alarm is a necessity in any household. When working properly a smoke alarm can save your life in the event of a fire. There are two...

In a late-night house fire, smoke inhalation could kill you long before flames reach your room. Smoke and heat detectors---with alarms that sound at very loud chirps and high frequencies---can be...

Smoke alarms save lives on a regular basis, sounding a warning at the possible start of a fire. However, the false alarms often annoy and frustrate users. Understanding the causes can help you...

Smoke detectors, among the most significant inventions to promote fire safety in the last 100 years, come in various shapes and sizes. The two main types of detectors are known as photoelectric...

While fire prevention has seen great improvements in recent years, malfunctioning smoke detectors have caused frustration and grief in many homes. Smoke alarms are vitally important to the safety...

Smoke detectors save lives. They can also emit unwanted sounds at inconvenient times. Learning about smoke detectors and how to properly troubleshoot problems can cut down on false alarms and keep...

Two main types of smoke alarms have their own strengths and weaknesses. Fire safety experts agree, however, that having a properly maintained smoke detector of any type can protect families, homes...

Though smoke detectors and heat detectors perform different functions, both can save lives during a fire. Smoke detectors are a more common fixture in homes, but heat detectors have several...

Consumers generally can choose between two main types of smoke alarms, both of which have strengths and weaknesses. But fire safety experts believe just having a smoke detector--any smoke...

Smoke detectors are designed to alert people to seek safety in the event of fires in dwellings and other buildings. But merely having the devices installed is not enough to ensure safety. Care and...

Fire safety organizations consider smoke detectors and smoke alarms to be the most important device in the prevention of deaths and injuries from fires. Many of these organizations sponsor...

Smoke detectors were originally developed for the prevention of fire outbreaks in industrial buildings such as factories and warehouses, and public buildings where large numbers of people would be...

Properly installed smoke detectors are a critical component of home security. A 2004 study showed that 96 percent of U.S. households had at least one smoke detector installed. Of homes suffering...

The two types of smoke alarms are the photoelectric smoke alarm and the ionization smoke alarm, each of which works better for a different type of fire. Find out which smoke alarms are best to use...

A smoke alarm uses a circuit board and works when smoke enters the sensing chamber, setting off a loud, audible tone. Find out the difference between ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms with...

Home smoke alarms are battery operated or hard wired machines that use ionization or photoelectric sensors to detect smoke from fires. Discover how smoke disrupts and triggers smoke alarms to...

Smoke detectors notify people of fire at times when they might not otherwise notice, such as when they're asleep. The device sounds an alarm to warn people of danger, giving them sufficient time...

Ionization chamber fire alarms use a physical process. An electrical current is established within the alarm's chamber by a radioactive source producing electrically charged molecules in the air....

Smoke detectors save lives, but only if they are installed properly and are well-maintained. Learning about the different types of smoke alarms, how they need to be maintained, and where they...