Smoke Detectors Electrician Services
Smoke detectors are one of the most important aspects of your home’s safety system. Many homeowners are not aware if their detector is operating properly. The best and easiest way is to periodically press the test button and to see if the battery and correct voltage are present. Another excellent way to test your smoke detector is to blow a small amount of harmless smoke on the unit to verify that it is responding correctly.
The most common brand of smoke detector used by Asheville area electricians is the Firex® Brand. There are many good detectors on the market today but the manufacturer of Firex® and Kidde® detectors states that the expected life of their units is 10 years. If you own an older home you should consider replacing your detectors.
There are several types of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors:
- Ionization Alarms are the most commonly used. They are generally more effective at detecting fast, flaming fires that spread quickly and consume combustible materials.
- Photoelectric Alarms are good units for use near kitchens. These alarms are generally more effective at detecting slow fires that smolder for hours before turning into flame.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms detect the presence of CO in the air. The CO alarm monitors the CO concentration in the surrounding environment over time. CO detectors are a great safety fixture to have in homes with gas appliances or attached garage.
- Combination smoke and CO alarms combine two units into one unit. These combo alarms feature a dual ionization smoke chamber that quickly detects fast-burning or smoldering fires as well as a CO alarm for residential CO protection.
A battery back-up feature will keep all of these various types of alarms functional during a power failure.