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Step 1
Head to your favorite home improvement store. Most home improvement centers have an ample selection of smoke detectors, and you can usually find what you're looking for in one of these stores.
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Step 2
First of all, you get what you pay for. While smoke alarms with more features may cost slightly more, if you can minimize the damage to your home during a fire, it's worth the money.
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Step 3
Look for a set of smoke detectors that are linked. If you have a smoke detector in you garage (and you should) and it goes off, chances are that you're not going to hear it inside your house. If your alarms are linked, when one goes off, they all go off. This is also a very important feature in a multi-level house. There are both wired and wireless linked systems. I would recommend the wireless variety since you don't have to run wires and it simplifies installation.
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Step 4
Another important feature to look for in a detector is that it senses carbon monoxide. This is a very dangerous gas, and you'd do well to buy a smoke alarm that detects it. Most smoke alarms on the market today do, but it never hurts to make sure.
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Step 5
Follow the instructions on the package for installation, and install fresh batteries. Test the smoke alarms to make sure they're in good working order. Now you can sleep a little easier at night knowing you have a quality smoke detection system.
