The smoke detector is a tool created to detect the existence of fire within buildings. Smoke is created from byproducts of incomplete combustion, producing particles that linger in the air.
These devices can capture particles and other gases, signaling their presence with acoustic warnings. To decide which smoke detector is best suited to your needs, you will need to take into consideration some fundamental aspects.
Here we had selected some of the best models of smoke detectors that are listed below.
Buying Guide to Select the Best Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are simple equipment, very easy to install, always very cheap and, most importantly, they were born to save lives.
Choosing which one is most suitable for your home can be complicated, given the countless variety of models on the market. To help you, we have answered the most common questions about these devices.
Simple or Complete?
The first choice that arises for the savvy consumer is that between devices that only limit the detection of fumes and those that are complete, which are also activated with flames, carbon dioxide and methane, providing you with global protection.
On a technical level, having a single device for each risk is preferred (click here for a complete overview), as you could have the best tool at home for any potential danger.
If you have to compare the prices of the two solutions, however, the discussion changes. The complete detector is much cheaper, without overall reducing the security level significantly. In practice, this solution may, therefore, be preferable.
Battery and Installation
They are two essential aspects to consider. The power supply of a good detector must be both mains and autonomous, to be activated even if the fire has compromised the electrical system.
You will need to check the battery life, which varies from product to product and make sure that it can be replaced effortlessly.
While the installation does not generally present particular difficulties, reading the various user reviews, we have discovered that it is important to have a manual in Italian, if only to be sure to position and configure the instrument in the right way. So, pay attention to this fundamental detail, which can greatly affect your safety.
Smart and Connective
Wouldn’t it be nice to be warned by the detector of a danger when we are away from home, perhaps with a call on the cell phone? The new models have made this dream come true as they are equipped with a Wi-Fi connection.
In this way, they ensure a constant surveillance service, very useful when you are travelling or on vacation. Among the other features often present in this type of device we also mention the self-testing, that is the possibility of carrying out periodic tests to verify the functionality.
So you will always be sure that the device is watching over your safety and is not broken. Furthermore, the reset function, which resets the recorded values, can be useful.
To conclude, remember that the digital revolution will certainly affect smoke detectors shortly, enriching them with new possibilities and functions. So, if you are a security enthusiast, try to keep yourself updated.
How to Use a Smoke Detector?
There are things on which it would be good not to pay attention to savings: safety is one of them. In our case, we talk about security within the home. Don’t imagine how simple it is to cause a fire accidentally; just a distraction, and when we notice the flames, it’s too late.
This is why it is important to install smoke detectors which, in most cases, also signal the presence of gas in the air. Here we had also shared a video guide have a look at that.
The Three Categories
When it comes to smoke detectors, three categories can be highlighted, namely, those of temperature and heat, which perceive the rise in temperature in the home, flame detectors and, finally, the smoke detectors that can perceive the particles produced by the combustion process.
Where to Install It?
It may be natural to install the smoke detector in places in the home where the fire is most likely to occur, but this is not the case. Such a solution could give rise to a series of false alarms: let’s think, for example, of the kitchen.
Furthermore, the detectors must be positioned according to the model and their range of action. As for their number, it must be proportional to the surface to be kept under control.
It is preferable to mount the detectors on the ceiling; in practical terms, proceed as follows: the cover must be removed, and the detector positioned at the chosen point. Then, using a marker, you need to put marks in correspondence with the attachment holes of the detector.
At this point, it is necessary to intervene with the drill to make the holes. More precise information about the connection to the mains can be found in the instruction booklet included in the package.
Test the Detector
After installing the smoke detector, you need to be sure that a good job has been done and that it works. For this reason, it is necessary to perform a test. Indeed, it would be a good idea to check the device periodically.
The first thing to do is to buy a spray can to test the smoke detectors. Once you have this special spray, press the “test” button on all detectors and do not release it until it emits an acoustic signal.
At that point, the spray must be delivered in the direction of the detector. If everything is in order, the alarm will go off. If the detector is not too old, it will be equipped with a button to turn off the alarm. Otherwise, you can approach a vacuum cleaner that will suck in the spray remaining in the air surrounding the detector.
How to Choose the Best Smoke Detector?
One of the most important requirements to check before purchasing a smoke detector is the accuracy of the sensors used, following all the guidelines provided by the device manufacturer.
This is the most important requirement to understand, for example, the best positioning of the detector. But in addition to the sensor, the technical characteristics to be considered are many; therefore, let’s go in order.
Battery
The power supply of a smoke detector can be of two types: mains or autonomous. Our advice is to aim for models that are capable of self-feeding and therefore work even when a possible fire could have compromised the functioning of the home’s electrical system.
It is also important to understand what types of batteries power the device and what is the average duration of use when the latter is not connected to the mains. In any case, most of the smoke detectors currently on sale are powered independently.
Installation
Generally, installing a smoke detector is very simple. The thing to take into consideration when buying this type of devices, however, is the presence of a manual: it may seem nonsense, but with these devices, the manual is essential to understand the operating modes and also the sensitivity of the sensor used.
Flame Detection
Two types of smoke detector are commercially available. The simpler ones can detect only the presence of smoke, while the more complete ones are also able to detect any flames, carbon dioxide and the presence of methane in the air, to provide complete protection.
Our advice is to point towards the second type of detector because, even if it could cost a little more, you would sleep more peaceful dreams especially for the issue of carbon dioxide or methane, less flashy than smoke and flames.
Periodic Tests
Some models on sale integrate an automatic diagnosis function with which the correct functioning is verified through periodic tests. Our advice is to focus on the purchase of these particular models to avoid living in the uncertainty of the actual operation of the device.
Smart Detectors
Smart smoke detectors are the natural evolution of this product category and, as we mentioned before, they work by connecting to the home wireless network.
The benefit of these products is the fact of being able to keep your home under control even when you are not physically inside and, if a fire breaks out, you could receive an alert notification on your smartphone in practically any part of the world.
