Home Safety

The alarms in ionization smoke detectors operate through an electrical current constantly running between two plates inside the devices. If smoke interrupts the current, an alarm sounds to alert...

Fire alarm systems are essential for any home or business. Fire alarms detect smoke and heat using various types of technology. An alarm then sounds to alert a building's occupants of any...

You awake one night to the suffocating smell of smoke emanating from somewhere in your home. Tired and confused, you are not sure whether there is a fire or not; the smoke detector is beeping but...

Security systems are typically not considered portable; but if you are moving and would like to take your security system to your new home you can remove it yourself for free. You should be able...

Most smoke detectors emitting false alarms do so because of improper placement near environmental factors that trip the internal sensors. Fixing the problem requires better smoke detector...

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...

Security systems use zones to monitor security devices. To correctly install a security system you must plan for the zones your system will use. Hardwired systems may have only six zones while...

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...

Alarm systems have become increasingly popular over the last few decades. They are ideal for not only protecting your home and possessions, but can also provide you with a great deal of peace of mind.

Fires in the home kill approximately 4,000 people each year. According to a John Hopkins University study 75 percent of those people could have been saved if their homes had working smoke...

Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, like smoke detectors, have a test function. Test your CO detector on a regular basis. For instance, Kidde, a manufacturer of CO detectors, recommends testing a...

Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, colorless, deadly gas. Inhalation of Carbon Monoxide blocks the body’s ability to bring necessary oxygen to cells and organs. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can result...

Most people think of house fires as starting in the kitchen or near a fireplace. However, fire can also start in a bathroom. There are some important things to remember to keep fire from starting...

Smoke detectors, also called smoke alarms, are essential in all homes and businesses. Over time, smoke detectors begin to lose their effectiveness and must be replaced with a new unit. The old one...

Setting up an alarm system means understanding your security needs and choosing the right components for the job. Your alarm system needs to cover every entrance in your house, as well as such...

Smoke detectors, while key in providing warnings of imminent danger, can frustrate and annoy household users when they malfunction. Frequent beeps and false alarms can lead to users ignoring the...

In order to fully understand how infrared motion detectors work in security systems, users must first understand the function of infrared light. According to the National Aeronautics and Space...

In a typical home security application, each ground-level door and window, and sometimes second-story windows as well, have an attached sensor that monitors the entryway's status. Each of these...

Security alarm systems, also called burglar alarms, are designed to detect intrusion. They can also be equipped with features such as smoke detectors, fire detectors, panic alarms, carbon monoxide...

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes the deaths of approximately 200 people every year and sends another 5,000 to the emergency room for treatment. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and...

Carbon monoxide detectors save many lives each year. They work by warning that toxic gas is present inside a home. An alarm sounds before residents are exposed to hazardous carbon monoxide levels....

A defective smoke detector is not only annoying, but also often dangerous. If you have a smoke detector with an alarm that keeps going off, then your first step to remedy the situation is to reset...

It is so important for children to be prepared in the event of a fire. The smoke detector is designed to alert families to the possibility of a fire, but some children do not hear the high-pitched...

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...

PIR (Passive InfraRed) alarms are used to detect the heat, or heat energy, dissipated by a person moving within the detectors' field of view. The alarms also will detect dogs, cats, raccoons, or...

Smoke detectors can potentially save your life in the event of a fire. However, they can also go off accidentally if you're cooking food and it gets smoky. To keep the alarm from sounding in this...

A Simplex fire alarm is an advanced, brand-name form of fire detection and alert made for and installed in commercial structures such as schools, libraries, office buildings and stores of all...

Few, if any, would argue the wisdom of checking the batteries in household smoke detectors every six months. You may not realize, though, that the smoke detector itself needs to be replaced...

The Federal Housing Administration is a part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Part of its mandated duties is the administration of mortgages for single-family homes---FHA...

Fire safety is one of the most important things for families, especially those with young children. Knowing what to do and where to go can ease your mind. It can also save lives.

A DIY burglar alarm doesn't mean building the alarm from scratch. Rather, it means a system with easily installed components, which you can mount using just a screwdriver and a little bit of time....

Burglar alarms have become so common that many new homes are built with burglar alarms pre-installed. But do they work? If you know how to use the alarms and you have the correct equipment...

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...

Home safety no longer means having only house alarms and smoke detectors. Many homeowners are also testing for noxious gases. Noxious gases are any gases, such as carbon monoxide and radon, that...

We pass under our smoke detectors each day, running in and out of our homes without giving them a second thought. When the seasons change, stop and take time to test your smoke detector. It does...

Most smoke detectors today contain a small amount of radiation called Americium-241; for the average consumer, having radiation in your home can be a frightening prospect. However, the levels of...

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...

Sewer gas or septic gas can cause a foul smelling gas odor in your house that may be difficult to remedy if you don’t know what to look for--but easy enough to fix if you do. Sewer gas odor can...

A wireless security system can be a great way to protect both your home and those whom you love. Depending on how much money you spend, your wireless home security system can come with a variety...

The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has a number of requirements for the use and placement of smoke detectors within the home. These provisions are only necessary when new construction is...

Throughout America, smoke detectors use a type of radioactive material known as americium-241. This element is necessary to allow the smoke detectors to work properly. Although the element is...

Smoke detectors in the United States are radioactive due to the presence of an element necessary for their proper function. Without the radioactive element, there is no way for the average smoke...

Heat alarms are devices that may be installed in addition to smoke detectors. Rather than detecting particles in the air (as smoke detectors do), they activate as a result of high temperatures.

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...

To choose a home security alarm system, consider several basic factors. You'll need to decide which types of protection you need (door and window contacts, motion detectors, etc.), how much...

In the late '90s, random telephone surveys discovered that respondents preferred home burglar alarms to other security measures. Since the arrival of wireless technology, these systems have become...

Fires kill thousands every year in their homes, especially at night when people are asleep. Such tragedies can be averted, however, because smoke detectors can and do save lives when used...

As the weather outside turns blustery, fireplaces are lit both for comfort and relaxation. Unfortunately, several home owners will not have taken the time to have their chimney's cleaned and/or...

Smoke detectors can save lives by warning people of fires in homes, businesses and public facilities. While smoke detectors are very effective in protecting people, some types of detectors sound...

Advancements in fire alarm technology have saved thousands of lives every day. However, smoke detectors and fire alarms are often taken for granted. Today almost every business and home uses the...