Embrace Fire Alarms in Your House, Even When They Are Annoying

2/3/2022 (Permalink)

With limited time to escape a fire and unit options that can detect fire and smoke damage, these inexpensive devices can save lives.

Fire Alarms Should Be Accepted In Your Home, Even If They Are Annoying

Everyone knows the chirping sound of the battery dying in a fire alarm. That noise can drive people crazy, but the alarms in your home in St Michael, MN protect the lives of you and your family. Here are four things to consider next time you contemplate bashing a chirping alarm.

1. How much time do you have to escape a fire?

Smoke can arrive before fire damage, and with only 3-4 minutes to get out, an alarm can be the deciding factor in your escape. Individual units go off when fire reaches them whereas connected units go off as soon as one unit is triggered letting the whole house know to escape.

2. What is the right alarm for your house?

Smoke alarms come in two styles - photoelectric and ionization. Photoelectric units sense smoky fires while ionization units sense more flames with less smoke. Since all fires are different, installing both types of alarms can be a great decision.

3. How long does an alarm device last?

Everyone knows that the batteries should be changed twice a year, but not many people know when to change the actual fire alarm unit. Typical devices can last for 8-15 years, so check the date on your alarm the next time you change the batteries. If it was manufactured in the 1990s, it's definitely time to install a new one.

4. How expensive are alarms?

Installing an alarm in each bedroom, on every floor, and more outside of every sleeping area of the house can seem like a huge expense. However, standard units cost just $6-20 and bi-annual battery replacements can cost just a few bucks.

If you thought fire alarms were too annoying, too expensive, or not really necessary, think again. With limited time to escape a fire and unit options that can detect fire and smoke damage, these inexpensive devices can save lives.