You would find that smoke/CO detectors are installed in almost every home across the US. According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are a lot of guidelines that homeowners should ideally abide by when it comes to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. That is because these devices play a vital role in reducing fires, damage to your home and in worse cases death too.
Although smoke detectors are a common find, not all of them come with the technology to detect gas leaks – the most common one in domestic households being carbon monoxide. You would normally find Ionization smoke detectors, ones that can pick up on flaming fires faster, and photoelectric smoke detectors that are quick to pick up on smoldering fires.
So what can you do about gas leaks then? Well, there may not be an ordinary smoke detector that can do the work of both ionization and photoelectric detectors and pick up on any gas leaks, but there is something that can: Smart Smoke Detectors.
What Are Smart Smoke Detectors
Smart smoke detectors are probably one of the greatest smart home products to have been invented. These devices combine the work of both ionization and photoelectric smoke detectors, being able to pick up on anything from smoldering to fast-burning fires. But here’s the best part, these smart smoke detectors aren’t just your typical smoke detectors; these devices can detect carbon monoxide leakages within your home too!
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is emitted from certain household appliances like boilers and other heating systems, air conditioners, leaving your car on in a closed garage and even certain cleaning fluids. A lot of exposure to carbon monoxide can be poisonous for anybody within the household, including pets. That is why having a carbon monoxide detector in a home is equally important – and what better device than a smart smoke detector!
How to Install a Smart Smoke Detector
- Smoke detectors are almost always installed onto outlets on the ceilings of a home or higher up on walls otherwise. Before anything, you would have to first turn off the power supply to the outlet from the main circuit breaker in your home. This goes for any wired smart smoke detector.
- The first step involves fixing in the mounting plate above the outlet that would then hold the smart smoke detector once it is placed in it.
- You would first have to mark the points where the plate needs to be screwed onto the wall or ceiling and then fix in the plate making sure the outlet opening is visible through the opening of the plate.
- Once the mounting plate has been installed, gently take the wires out from the opening of the plate so you can connect them to the smart smoke detector.
- It is recommended that you refer to the instruction manual of your smart smoke detector in order to connect the wires to the right ports behind the device so that it saves you the trouble of taking the device out of the mount and fixing it again.
- Once the wiring has been connected, you can now place the device into its mounting plate. Gently push the device into the plate to hold it in place.
- When the device is fixed in, as well as the rest of them around your home, switch the power back on from the main circuit breaker. Your device may have a light(s) that would begin to blink. That’s an indicator that your smart smoke detector has successfully been installed!
Now comes the part where you must configure your smart smoke detector. Much like all smart devices, smart smoke detectors also feature their own mobile applications, through which you can connect your device to the home Wi-Fi network and configure it as well. When that’s done, watch your device work its magic.
Where Should You Install Smoke Detectors
Smart smoke detectors cover a larger range as opposed to regular ones. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know where to place smoke detectors in general. The NFPA states that there should be a smoke detector in every sleeping area first and foremost – that means bedrooms, living rooms, anywhere where there are chances of you falling asleep. Then, it is important to have a smoke detector on every level of a house; if you have a multi-story house with an upper level or even a basement, there should be at least one smoke detector on each level.
Kitchens are usually the one place to start home fires or trigger false alarms. to be sure that your alarm works when it has to, the NFPA states that you must place the device at least 10 feet away from any cooking appliances – stoves, ovens, etc. When mounting smoke detectors on walls instead of ceilings, then they should be placed not more than 12 inches from the ceiling. Where you should not be installing smoke detectors however, is near windows or doors because a draft can interfere with the device’s operation.
Smart smoke detectors may be pricier than regular ones but they are much better in terms of the technology they boast, as well as their ability to not just pick up on smoke or fire, but gas leaks too; which can save you from a lot of potentially dangerous situations. Head on over to FirstEnergy Home’s website, www.firstenergyhome.com and check out their catalog of smart smoke detectors.
