Smoke and Heat Detectors Smoke and Heat Detectors The leading cause of deaths and injuries to children at home is accidents. Fires are one of the most dangerous of such accidents. Most fatal home fires occur at night, while people sleep. If you are asleep or become disoriented from toxic gases produced by a fire, you may not even realize that there is a fire. A smoke or heat detector can sound an alarm and alert you to the danger in time to escape.
A: There are two types of detectors: (1) heat detectors, which sound an alarm to warn of an abnormally high temperature in the immediate area of the detector, and (2) smoke detectors, which sound an alarm at the first trace of smoke.
A: Some alarms operate on batteries. Others operate on household current and are either plugged into a wall outlet or wired directly into the electrical system.
A: An advantage of battery-operated alarms is that they are not affected by a fire that cuts off the electricity to the house. Also, they can be placed anywhere, even where there are no electrical outlets or wires. The disadvantages are that the batteries need to be changed about once a year, the beep indicating a low battery can be annoying, and false alarms can occur.
A: Advantages are that you do not have to change batteries and there is no annoying beep when the battery is low. However, fires that affect the household current will make the alarm not work. Also, detectors must be placed where wiring or outlets are available and false alarms can occur.
A: Yes. You should test the detectors once a month by holding a candle 6 inches away and blowing smoke toward the detector. The alarm should sound in 20 seconds. Some alarms have test buttons, but to be sure the detector works, you must use the smoke-testing method. You need to change batteries when they are low and use the correct kind of battery. You must clean the unit at least once a year by vacuuming the detector. Never paint the detector.
A: Be sure to buy a detector that has the label of a testing laboratory--for example, Underwriter's Laboratory (UL)--and follow the installation and maintenance recommendations of the manufacturer. Buy the type that best suits your household needs and budget.
A: For minimum protection, you should install a smoke or heat detector outside each bedroom area and one on each story of the house. For extra protection, it is recommended that detectors be installed in bedrooms, the dining room, furnace room, utility room, attic, garage, and hallways.
A: Smoke rises, so to detect the first traces of smoke a detector should be mounted on the ceiling (4 inches from any wall) or high on a wall (4 to 12 inches from the ceiling). Heat detectors should be mounted in the center of the ceiling.
A: Detectors can be purchased for about $7 to $60 each. Packaged fire detection systems may cost $300 and up.
Please take time to think about the risk to your child and family if they are not protected by smoke or heat detectors. The extra time provided by the alarm of a smoke or heat detector may allow your family to escape unharmed from a fire. The extra time and money spent on purchasing, installing, and maintaining adequate detectors could save your lives.