Keeping your home and family safe with a home security system is not just about keeping intruders out, it’s also about keeping you safe from disasters like fire. Do you have the proper systems in place to detect a fire in your home? Doing so could save the life of you and your family member as well as preventing property loss and damage.
What does a fire detection system include?
To properly detect fire in your home, you will need both detectors and an alarm. Smoke detectors are typically used, which will detect when there is smoke in the house. Sometimes, these devices are made to detect heat rather than smoke. Once smoke is detected, it will send a signal to the fire alarm, which will sound to alert you of danger. You can also find self-contained smoke alarms which perform both jobs.
The advantages of monitored fire detection
Fire alarms systems can be either monitored or unmonitored. A monitored fire alarm system is much more effective at keeping you safe than an unmonitored one.
An unmonitored smoke alarm is mostly useful when you are home. You’ll hear the alarm and can respond to it by getting out of the house safely and calling 911. If you’re not home, then you have to hope that a neighbor will hear the alarm and call for you. Otherwise, the fire will spread out of control and severely damage your home and belongings.
With a monitored alarm system, the fire brigade will be notified automatically when the alarm is triggered. They will send someone to contain the fire to minimize the damage. This can also be beneficial if you are at home. In certain situations, you may be trapped inside your home by the fire, or you may become unconscious from smoke inhalation. In this case, a monitored system will ensure that help is on its way.
Where to place fire detectors
Smoke detectors should be placed on each floor of your home. The higher floors are more important as heat and smoke rise. With this in mind, detectors should be positioned high up, either on the ceiling or at the top of the wall. You should avoid placing them in the corners where the walls and ceiling meet.
Avoid false alarms by not placing smoke detectors in the kitchen or bathroom. Smoke from cooking or steam from the shower could trigger the alarm when there is no danger. If you have a monitored fire alarm system, then this could call the fire brigade out to your home unnecessarily.
If your home isn’t properly equipped in the event of a fire, then you can contact Carolina Alarm to set you up with a professionally monitored fire alarm system, helping to keep homes and families safe across Winston Salem, High Point, Greensboro, and Mooresville. You should make sure to regularly test your fire alarm system to ensure it is still keeping you safe.