Smoke detectors are a must-have for any home. Although some homeowners can find the chirping indicating a new battery is needed to be annoying, smoke detectors save thousands of lives every year. They are among the best fire safety and fire protection tools to have, assuming they’re working properly and regularly tested.
Many of us have never had to face a house fire, but the risk is always present. So many fire risks exist in every home. Smoke detectors make it so that it puts in your mind the idea that there’s protection against these risks. If you have children, lets them know about the risks of fire.
Households should also create an escape plan in case of a real fire. The more time and preparation you invest, the less likely fire will cause irreparable damage to your property or serious injury. Here are eight reasons why your home needs smoke detectors.
1. Minimizes Risk of Fire-Related Injury
A smoke detector minimizes the risk of fire-related injury and death, providing enough warning when there is a fire to get out of the house. With a smoke alarm, you get a faster response time. You know a fire is happening before it has a chance to spread. This can save large portions of your property and avoid a lot of damage, reducing repair costs.
2. They Are Easy to Test and Maintain
Smoke alarms are not difficult to operate. They just need the battery switched out when the detector indicates that the battery is getting low. Smoke detectors are not only one of the most effective ways to detect a fire early, but they are also one of the most affordable. Considering the risks and the surprising low cost, having working smoke detectors properly installed around your home is well worth it.
3. It Wakes You Up
The majority of deadly home fires happen when families are asleep. They either do not wake or do not have enough time to make it out of the house. Furthermore, nearly 70% of home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke detector or no working smoke detectors. This is your 24/7 alarm. A smoke detector will wake you up no matter the house if smoke is detected.
4. You Know There’s A Fire Before You See It
Smoke spreads faster than heat and flame. A smoke detector notifies you that smoke buildup and gases are spreading. Of the more than 200 Canadians who lose their lives in residential fires every year, most die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases rather than the fire directly. A smoke detector will pick up on a fire’s smoke gathering long before you see the true extent of what’s happening.
5. They Protect Every Area of the Home
Smoke detectors can be put anywhere. You cannot be in all places at once. If there’s a fire in a bedroom, you may not know about it if you’re somewhere else on the property. By the time it reaches you, a significant amount of damage has already occurred. Install smoke alarms outside bedrooms and on each level of your home, including your basement. Doing this ensures that everywhere is protected, including those who may be using or asleep in those areas.
6. They Protect Children and Seniors
Children and seniors may not realize when they create a major fire risk. Lighters. Matches. Candles. Lanterns. All it takes is for one of these things to be a little too close to something like curtains, bedding, or combustible décor. In a matter of a minute or less, you can have a major fire on your hand. At that time, a smoke detector goes off, and anyone in the house can hear it, ensuring everyone gets out safe and protected.
7. Some Can Detect Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide comes from poorly maintained or fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, and other sources. The gas is odourless and colourless, making it impossible to detect without a smoke detector telling you so. Although not all smoke detectors have a carbon monoxide detector, some models do. These are worth looking into as carbon monoxide detectors can prevent serious illness and even death by alerting you to when there is significant buildup.
8. There Are Very Few False Alarms
So long as smoke detectors are installed in the right places. A smoke detector should be at least ten feet away from cooking appliances in the kitchen and installed away from vents, ceiling fans, and windows, all of which would direct smoke away from them. A smoke detector relies on the rising smoke, so they need to be at a high point where smoke will naturally gather.
