When you buy a new home, you have to ensure that everything is prim and proper. Often only décor and aesthetics are on our priority list, however, the first thing you should take care of is the safety and security of your home. By security we don’t only mean keeping away burglars and trespassers Types of Smoke Detectors but also safety against any hazard that may be caused by any faulty systems such as fire hazard, which may occur as a result from an improper fire and smoke detection system.

Thanks to technology, we can now keep our homes safe without much effort. Fire and smoke detectors now have the latest technology to keep your home safe without you putting in the hard work. Here are some Types of Smoke Detectors that you may want to consider for your home.

Ionization Smoke Detectors

Ionization smoke detectors are pretty common these days. These smoke detectors work by detecting ionizing particles. These ionizing smoke detectors hold small amounts of radioactive material, which  is often held between two electrically charged plates. A current runs through these plates due to a reaction between these components. Whenever there is a fire or smoke, it causes a disruption in current between them, which causes the alarm to go off. While these are widely used they are mostly good for detecting open flames, but not smoldering flames.

Photoelectric Smoke Detectors

These are second ones on the list of popular smoke detectors. As the name suggests these smoke detectors use light sensors to detect fire. You can commonly see them in hotels. These consist of a smoke detection chamber, which consists of a beam of light. As soon as smoke enters the smoke detection chamber, it disrupts the light beam, which causes alerts the sensor and then the alarm goes off. The advantage of these types of smoke detectors is that they can detect fire at an early stage where it has not reached a more hazardous open flames stage.

Battery Operated Smoke Detectors

When it comes to the kind of power supply you want to use, then one of the options available is battery powered smoke detectors. These are extremely useful and help in keeping our home safe and secure without giving us an exaggerated electricity bill every month. Plus, they are low maintenance. Another advantage is that they have an easy installation process. However, you may need to ensure one thing every few days i.e. if the batteries are working or not. There could be nothing more hazardous than a dead smoke detector due to no batteries. So be vigilant.

Hard Wired Smoke Detectors

As the name suggests these are wired smoke detectors, which use your home’s electrical supply function. Hard wired smoke detectors are usually connected with your home’s main electrical supply. These also require less maintenance, especially because you do not have to worry about changing batteries, which also makes them more reliable. These kinds of smoke detectors also have an option for batteries. However, batteries are not the primary source of supply. You just have an, so in case of an emergency when there is no power supply available, the detector can use batteries as a backup. Occasional power outages can occur in any part of United States and you would not want your smoke detection system to be compromised. This makes them an excellent choice for your home.

Smart Smoke Detectors

There are also smart smoke detectors available in the market. You can choose to install a sophisticated smart smoke detector, which will not only detect fire in your home but also give you a notification on your phone or tablet device. The biggest advantage is that you do not need to be home for this to work and get alerts. You will be alerted even if you are absent, so you can take measure like calling the fire control department as soon as possible and minimize loss. Another advantage is that these are cost effective. While you may find the initial cost high, in the long run it will consume less electricity. It is also a great way to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. Smart smoke detectors will also not interfere with your home’s décor and aesthetics as they come in sophisticated and stylish designs.

Final Thoughts

Smoke detectors are essential when it comes to the safety of your home. It is not a luxury but merely a need and requirement.  A fire in your home is not only detrimental to your furniture, appliances and other material goods, but it also is a threat to you and your family’s lives. It may give permanent or temporary physical injuries. It leaves a long lasting impression on the mind because of the trauma even if there are no lives lost.

So, make sure you choose carefully and then take care of its maintenance as without that it may not be very useful. Maintenance includes checking if the wiring is old and requires repair in case of hard wired smoke detectors, while in case of battery operated ones it is essential to check batteries every now and then.

This article explains the basics of smoke detection systems, but it is essential that you do your research before getting one for your home.