Protecting yourself against house fires is all-important.
It can literally be the difference between life and death.
Indeed, the 354,400 house fires that US fire services respond to every year lead to 2,560 fatalities. These statistics should be compelling reasons to take fire-safety at home more seriously.
Are you looking to do exactly that?
Well, a vital first step is to install fire and smoke alarms.
This single measure can alert you to fire danger, providing you and your family with enough time to respond. You can minimize the damage that fires do to property and walk away relatively unscathed in the process.
Sound good? Well, you’ll want the right detectors for the job. After all, you can’t afford for this product to let you down. Want to find the best smoke alarm possible?
Read on to discover 6 top-rated smoke detectors.
1. Google Nest Protect
Fire detection products don’t get much better the Google Nest Protect.
You’re looking at a versatile product that’s monitoring the environment for more than just smoke. The Nest Protect picks up on heat, smoke particles, and carbon monoxide too, which makes it a great all-rounder.
Another quality feature is its Wi-Fi capabilities. Linked up to the internet, you’ll receive alerts straight to your smartphone if there’s an issue.
That’s good news when you’re out of the house! You can handle an emergency remotely, from anywhere in the world. Throw in its easy installation process and voice alerts (instead of the typical siren), and you’re onto a winner.
The one downside of the Nest Protect is its price. We can’t lie, it isn’t the cheapest product compared to others on the market. However, given the quality of the product and the importance of its job, we’d argue that it’s well worth the expense.
2. Kidde KN-COSM-BA Smoke Detector
We thought we’d include this Kidde detector as a budget alternative to the Nest Protect.
After all, not everybody has pockets deep enough for high-end gear. At the same time, everybody needs high-quality products to protect them from house fires.
The Kidde KN-COSM-BA ticks both boxes as a quality product at a reasonable price.
As a budget detector, it lacks the fancy features of something like the Nest Protect. For example, you won’t receive alerts to your mobile or link up to Wi-Fi.
But what it does, it does well.
Most importantly, a loud voice will ring out if there’s any indication of fire or smoke. The fact that it’s easy to install is an added bonus.
3. First Alert SA3210 Dual Sensor
The First Alert Detector is definitely worth a mention as well.
A primary selling point for the First Alert is its dual sensory technology. Basically, it can distinguish between different types of fires.
That’s important. After all, not every fire is the same, which has a direct impact on how you have to respond. Some fires burn slowly and release a lot of smoke. Others are mostly flame and start raging in an instant.
Another bonus of its sensor sensitivity is the reduction in false alarms.
There’s nothing worse than being alerted to a fire, only to realize the detector’s jumped the gun. For one thing, it’s annoying! Worse, though, is the fact that you come to trust it less too.
Again, though, you don’t get the features of more advanced detectors. There’s no Wi-Fi connectivity, voice alerts, or remote control.
4. First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
One failing of the First Alert SA3210 is its lack of carbon monoxide detection.
It’s ideal for smoke and fire, but wouldn’t alert you if carbon monoxide was in the air.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that this is a common issue for many smoke detectors- not just the First Alert SA3210. With no built-in CO detector, you’re forced to buy a separate one to tell inform you of this hidden killer’s presence.
But there’s good news: the First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector solve the problem. By combining the two functions, you get an all-round alarm to install in your home.
5. Kidde Battery Operated Smoke and CO Detector
Here’s another smoke detector from Kidde that offers great value for money.
Just like the First Alert product above, you’re looking at a combined smoke and carbon monoxide detector at a budget price!
Another potential bonus is the fact that it’s battery-powered.
That means you can install and operate it with no hassle whatsoever. Pop three AA batteries into the device and you’re up and running.
Of course, a major downside is that those batteries will run out. It’s of paramount importance that you test the alarm regularly to check it still works, and replace the batteries when they die.
6. Vivint Smoke Detector
We like the Vivint Smoke Detector a lot.
Just like the Nest Protect, it’s a high-end product with masses of useful features.
It connects to the Wi-Fi, sends alerts to your mobile, can be controlled remotely, and integrates with your Smart Home. Those are all mighty positives that make your life far easier (and safer in the process).
However, another major Vivint selling point is the ability to link it with your monitored security system. In other words, you’ve got people actively monitoring your home for fire-danger.
You might wonder why that’s necessary if you get alerts on your mobile anyway.
But imagine being out hiking in the mountains, for example. You might have no phone service to let you know that a fire’s been raging back home. Linking it with a monitored service means someone can respond to the issue on your behalf.
Time to Buy Your Fire and Smoke Alarms
Few household disasters are as calamitous as fires.
Left unchecked, they cause untold property damage and pose an enormous risk to life. To put it bluntly, fires threaten everything that you hold dear.
That’s why fire and smoke alarms play a vital role in every house. Hopefully, this post will help you find the best one for you.
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