Household Sensors & Alarms

When I was first asked to research and write these reviews of fire safety products the request was for fire extinguishers alone. After hitting the streets, searching the web and speaking with a former executive at First Alert, I realized the fire safety in the home requires a couple of easy-to-access, simple-to-use products as well as an evacuation plan.

All fire professionals I spoke with said the best thing anyone can do in the event of a house fire is to GET OUT as quickly as possible. In order to do that, you have to have smoke detectors! It was also recommended that I not overlook carbon monoxide detectors either, as this odorless, colorless silent killer attacks without warning.

That being said, it was suggested everyone have at least one smoke detector and if possible, one in every bedroom with a CO detector of some kind in the home as well.

Also suggested are multi-rated ABC fire extinguishers in the kitchen (of which I keep two, one near the stove, another under the sink) and one in your garage.

After reading these reviews, I urge you all to sit down with your families, establish a fire escape/fire preparedness plan and review it twice a year, when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors. A good rule of thumb is to review your plan when you adjust your clocks in spring and fall.

Since the most basic rule is to have a smoke detector let's begin with those. There are two major players manufacturing products for homeowners and two general types of smoke alarms available today: photoelectric and ionization. Let's begin there.

While photoelectric smoke alarms generally respond faster to smoldering smoke conditions and ionization smoke alarms generally respond faster to flaming fire conditions, both types provide adequate protection against fire. Combination units are available, hence my choice for the top two smoke detectors in my review.