How to Choose a Smoke Detector
Depending on your situation and your preference, you can choose to go with a battery-operated detector or one that is hard-wired (AC-powered) to your electrical system. The important thing is that you have smoke detectors mounted in your living and work space.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Lithium Batteries
- Standard 9-volt Batteries
- Smoke Detectors
- AC-powered Smoke Detectors
- Combination Smoke/carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Lithium-powered Smoke Detectors
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Decide if you want a battery-operated smoke detector or a detector that runs on electricity. AC-powered smoke detectors with battery backup are the most desirable smoke detectors to have. Lithium 10-year battery-powered detectors are the second-best choice. Regular 9-volt battery-powered detectors are the cheapest, but least desirable type of detector.
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Keep in mind that building codes in most states require all new homes or additions to be equipped with hard-wired smoke detectors.
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Know that all smoke detectors need to be tested monthly.
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Change the batteries when you change your clocks - at the beginning of daylight-saving time in the spring, and again when returning to standard time in the fall.
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Replace all smoke detectors after 10 years.
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Tips & Warnings
A good time to have smoke detectors hard-wired to your electricity system is during a home addition, or when a new home is being built.
Consider purchasing a combination smoke/carbon monoxide detector for your home. They are more expensive, but well worth it.
If a smoke detector goes off, you literally have seconds to respond. There is absolutely no time to gather possessions, pets and possibly even each other. Your best response is to leave the home immediately, gather at your prearranged meeting place and call 911 from a neighbor's home.
Never go back into the house once you've escaped from a fire.
Avoid getting any paint or dust on your smoke detector.
Make sure that the smoke detector you choose has been tested by an independent testing laboratory.
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Comments
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jull14
Jun 25, 2009
I found this article to be very interesting and helpful at the same time, we need more articles like this to help people all over, thanks for sharing. Excellent -
Nov 22, 2005
When we purchased our new home, it had smoke detectors installed, they are AC-powered, no battery back-up. We purchased additional battery powered detectors. If you have a power outage, which is not uncommon due to storms, the AC-powered is of no use.
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Nov 22, 2005
Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery smoke detector. The battery does not need to be changed and since smoke detectors need to be replaced every 10 years, when the battery dies you know you need a new detector.
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Nov 22, 2005
You should suggest photoelectric smoke detectors. People don't know the difference and the difference is major. The ion / type detector has a large failure rate. Also suggest non-corrosive; detectors corrode and cause malfunction. Thank you.
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Nov 22, 2005
If you have high cathedral ceilings and they have a battery back-up in the detector, consider having a 10 year battery installed when the detector is installed or plan on taking a chance on a high step ladder to change the battery annually.
