What to look for in a smoke detector

Residential fires cause approximately 50 deaths each year in Australia, and that's to say nothing of the dozens of lives lost in recent bushfire events. If you have smoke detectors in your home, you’ll have a better chance of getting everyone out safely. While any smoke detector is better than none, here are a few things to look for when buying a new smoke alarm.

While classic ionisation and photoelectric smoke detectors are helpful, smart smoke detectors are at the cutting edge in fire safety. They communicate through apps and deliver alerts to your phone or other mobile devices if an alarm sounds.

Smart alarms can talk to each other too, so you’ll know exactly where the fire is when an alarm is triggered. The only downside is that smart devices are more expensive.

If your home's power goes out, you still need to know if there's a fire or smoke emergency. Hard-wired smoke detectors need to have a battery backup or some other backup power source to keep them running.

If the power goes out, it takes your smoke detector with it. Battery powered smoke detectors should have a test button or chirp when the battery starts to drain.

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Smoke alarms typically have three types of sensors: ionisation, photoelectric, and dual. Here are the main differences between the three.

Photoelectric smoke alarm sensors use light to detect smoke. When smoke particles are suspended in the air (as with a smoldering fire) the particles scatter the beam of light in the sensory chamber, which sets off the alarm.

Ionisation smoke detectors use radiation and an ionisation chamber to detect smoke. The ionising radiation helps detect small amounts of smoke in the air, as with a flaming fire. When smoke enters the sensor chamber, the current of the ionising radiation is disrupted, which triggers the alarm.

Dual sensors include both photoelectric and ionisation sensors. These are considered the safest smoke and fire detection devices. Because they detect both flaming fires and smaller, smouldering fires, it’s unlikely that any fire-related danger will get past these double-duty sensors.

Smoke alarms can save a life, but they have to be properly installed and maintained. Don’t risk your family’s safety—use these tips to keep your smoke detector alarm in tip-top shape.

Check batteries: Dead batteries are a major factor in smoke alarm failures. A smoke detector won’t do you any good if it isn’t working, so make sure to check your batteries every month and use the “test“ button intermittently to ensure proper function.

Arm every level: Only New South Wales and Queensland legally require homes to have smoke detectors on every level, but it's a smart idea for all Australians. You could go one further and place an alarm in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and in your garage. On floors without bedrooms, install alarms in the living area or near stairways.

If you have a large home, consider adding even more to cover the whole footprint.

Mount high: Smoke rises. It’s important to put your smoke detectors within a foot of your ceilings and 10 feet from cooking areas.

For vaulted ceilings, avoid putting smoke detectors in the “pitch” of the roofline. Instead, mount fire alarms about one metre below the ceiling so they can accurately read smoke.

Never run out of batteries: Keep several spare batteries in storage at all times, and replenish often. That way, you’ll always be ready to replace a dead battery in your smoke alarm. It's not a bad idea to set a recurring reminder on your phone to check the batteries each month.

Keep it clean: Dirt and debris interfere with the sensors on your smoke alarm. Dusty buildup can lead to false alarms or delayed detection during an emergency. Whether you have a photoelectric alarm or an ionisation detector, regular cleaning will keep your smoke alarm in working order.

Dodge drafts: Keep smoke alarms away from windows, doors, and air ducts. Drafts can disrupt the operation of smoke detectors and increase the occurrence of nuisance alarms.

Get connected: Wired and wireless interconnected smoke alarms help ensure everyone in your home knows about the emergency. You can install the connection easily and it will sound the siren throughout the house using each of your fire alarms. It takes a few extra steps to set up and test, but it means family members in every room will get the warning.

Even though it's on the expensive side, we picked the Google Nest Protect as the best smoke detector because it's just so damn helpful. Beyond being able to detect carbon monoxide and different types of fires, the app removes the frustration that comes with typical fire alarms.

Still, any smoke alarm is better than none, so don't hesitate to stock up.