When it comes to your home, safety is important and essential to living happily and comfortably. There are many components that come into play when you’re thinking about the safety of your home. All the locks need to be in place and functioning properly. The windows should bevisible and not obstructed from outside. An alarm system helps create a safer environment for you and your family. Fire alarms are also a must in any home. In order to create a safe place for your family to reside, it’s important that you find the best fire alarm system in Wilmington, DE. Fires can happen unexpectedly at any moment in time and create a world of danger for you and your loved ones. That’s why it’s important that you determine which fire alarm system is best for your home.
Check Regulations
Before you begin your search for a fire alarm system, be sure that you check the regulations in your area. Call your insurance company and ask them what their policy is about fire alarm systems and coverage. Some insurance companies will only cover fire damage if you have a certain monitored smoke and heat alarm systems, while others will offer a 5-10 percent discount for homes with monitored smoke alarms.
Fire Alarm Basics
Every fire is different—some flare while others smolder. When you’re searching for the perfect smoke alarm system, make sure that you choose an alarm which can detect both types of fires.
- Ionization smoke alarms are the best at detecting small particles of a fast-burning fire. They will alert you whenever there is a flaming fire, but tests have shown that they detect smoky and smoldering fires poorly. Ionization units are also known to set off false alarms caused by burnt food and steam. They shouldn’t be installed near a kitchen or bathroom.
- Photoelectric smoke alarms will detect large particles of a smoldering and smoky fire best. Unlike ionization smoke alarms, they are poor at detecting flaming fires. Photoelectric smoke alarms will not create false alarms due to burned food and steam. Due to that fact, you can place them anywhere in your home, including kitchens and bathrooms.
- Dual-sensor smoke alarms can detect both smoldering, smoky fires and fast, flaming fires. They have combined heat sensor and photoelectric technology to save you time and money. If you don’t have a dual-sensor smoke detector in all areas of your home, you may need to install multiple fire alarm systems in different sections of your home.
Additional Features
Newer versions of fire alarm systems include in a wide variety of additional features that may help you make a better decision and protect your home to the fullest. There are a few different things to take into consideration when examining these added features.
- Power sources for your fire alarm systems can vary. You may purchase a disposable battery-run smoke detector, which is very simple to install. You can also choose to purchase a hard-wired smoke detector, which requires professional installation.
- Battery backups are available for certain hard-wired smoke detectors. They offer a secure source of battery power in case the power in your home fails. All battery-operated smoke detectors will warn you when the battery starts to get low.
- Strobe light alarms are available to alert the hearing impaired of a fire in their home.