Smoke/CO Detector

The purpose of home security is to keep you and your family safe. And while people usually associate home security and safety with security cameras and burglar alarms that keep intruders away, it is so much more than that. Burglars are not the only potential threat your family can face. There are also potential dangers inside of your own home, like the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning or a house fire. The sound of a smoke alarm is enough to stop anyone dead in their tracks. Between the cost of potential damage to your home, the price of the belongings that are destroyed, and the emotional toll that comes from losing so many sentimental valuables, the irrecoverable damage caused by a fire is astronomical. The damage that can come from the loss of life due to a fire or fatal carbon monoxide poisoning is even worse. Losing a loved one is many people’s worst nightmare, but fortunately there is a simple way to prevent these avoidable tragedies. Installing a smoke and carbon monoxide detector is the solution and now that technology has allowed us to create a smart home having the best fire and CO alarm has never been easier. As a renter or homeowner, you want to be notified immediately of fire or carbon monoxide danger in your home without receiving too many false alarms along the way. And while traditional smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have had a place in houses around the world for decades, wouldn't you want something even better if it were available? Well, there is something better, and we want to make sure you know about it. The smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector is the safest way to protect your home against the danger of a fire. Smoke and CO detection is an often overlooked area of home security, but they are just as important as security cameras and home safes. Thanks to smart smoke detectors, it has never been easier to keep your family, your home, and your belongings safe from the dangers of a fire or a carbon monoxide leak. Home security appliances—including smoke and CO detectors—are getting smarter and more complex every day. If you haven’t heard about smart smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and combo detectors and the groundbreaking benefits that they have to offer, then this article is for you. If you have heard about smart detectors and are eager to learn more about how they are a step above traditional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, then this article is also for you.

If you look up the word “smart” in the dictionary, the primary definition you will find will use some of the following (or similar) words: intelligent, clever, sharp, bright. Our devices are smarter today than ever before. A smart smoke alarm is so much more than the run of the mill smoke alarm installed in your home. A smart smoke alarm can connect to your phone, they have faster reaction times, and they work both harder and smarter to keep you safe. In order to better understand smart smoke detectors, it is beneficial to understand how they work. There are two different types of smoke detectors: ionization smoke alarms or photoelectric smoke sensor. These are the same basic technologies that power traditional smoke detectors, so you may already be familiar with how they work. Let’s take a look at each one to see how they help keep you safe. Ionization Sensor Smoke Detectors Ionization smoke detectors are the most common type of smoke detector. These detectors use diodes to pass an electrical current from one point to another. Smoke particles in the air interrupt that electrical current and subsequently trigger the detector’s alarm. This type of detector responds more promptly to fast-burning fires than photoelectric detectors respond. This style is effective at detecting smoke, but it can also be set off from steam or other contaminants like dust. The ionization detector can be wireless or a hardwired alarm and provide an effective way to protect any room. Photoelectric Sensor Smoke Detectors Photoelectric smoke detectors are less common than ionization detectors, but they are still frequently used in homes around the country. These detectors use light sensors rather than diodes to detect smoke particles. When smoke particles break the light beam that a light sensor is monitoring, the detector knows that it is time to sound the warning alarm. The photoelectric smoke alarm is both a tested and proven device but everyone has experienced the nuisance alarm they create when the battery is low. When you install a smart smoke detector, you enable yourself to know when the battery should be changed and this smart battery system will ensure that you never have a detector that isn't functioning.

Answer: Carbon monoxide detectors use sensors to monitor the amount of toxic gas in the air. Carbon monoxide detectors can use different types of technology to identify noxious gas in the air inside of your home. Just like you can buy different styles of detectors, you can buy detectors with different sensors. Here are some of the most widely used sensors. Electrochemical Sensor The Cove carbon monoxide and smoke detector is an electrochemical sensor. An electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor uses the chemical properties of carbon monoxide to determine the concentration of the gas in the air. Essentially, multiple electrodes inside of the device are submerged in a chemical liquid or gel. These electrodes measure chemical reactions between the air that seeps into the device through a porous membrane and the inside of the device. The chemical reaction creates an electrical output that is directly proportional to the amount of carbon monoxide in the air next to the sensor. Electrochemical sensors are considered the highest quality type of sensor available. They are the best at detecting carbon monoxide levels in the air, making them the best at keeping your home safe. They also have a long lifespan. Metal Oxide Semiconductor Sensor Carbon monoxide alarms that use metal oxide semiconductor sensors utilize circuitry to detect gas in the air. When carbon monoxide comes in contact with the circuits inside of the device, the device’s electrical resistance is lowered. This process triggers the alarm that lets you know there is too much lethal gas in your home’s air. These sensors usually come in plug-in form. Biomimetic Sensor Using color-changing liquids that change color as they absorb carbon monoxide, this sensor mimics the response of hemoglobin in human blood to carbon monoxide. When the liquid inside of this device comes in contact with carbon monoxide, it changes color. A separate sensor monitors the color change of the liquid and sets off the alarm when the color change is drastic enough. Then, after the alarm has gone off, a biomimetic sensor can be rest by spending time in an environment that is free of carbon monoxide. After it has reset, it is ready to be used once again. Optochemical Sensor This sensor uses color to signify the amount of carbon monoxide in the air, much like the biomimetic sensor. A pad inside of the device will change color as it detects the gas in the air. Unlike the other sensors, though, optochemical sensors cannot tell how much carbon monoxide is in the air. Although you should always immediately evacuate an area with raised levels of carbon monoxide in the air, knowing the saturation level of the air allows you to know how deadly it is to take it into your body. All carbon monoxide alarms are designed to sound the alarm before levels get high enough to cause you any harm, but you can never be too safe.

Hardwired Smoke Detectors As mentioned above, hardwired smoke detectors are connected to your home’s power supply. This means that since each individual smoke and CO detector is hooked up to the same power source, they can connect and all react at once in the case of an emergency. This can be a very desirable feature if there is a real fire or emergency because it means people in any area of your house can be immediately alerted to get it. But it can be a little obnoxious if every smoke detector triggers for a false alarm. Luckily, you can silence smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with your phone, minimizing the volume and duration of the hardwired smoke detectors’ alarm. Though, especially in the case of a carbon monoxide alarm it would be unwise and dangerous to assume that it was a false alarm and simply turn off the audible alarm. These detectors come with battery backups as a safeguard against the chance that your power were to ever go out. Fires or carbon monoxide leaks can happen with or without electricity coursing through your house, and the battery backups will keep your hardwired smoke detectors functioning properly in any situation. It is crucial to remember to change the batteries so that your detector can keep you safe in any situation, but smart smoke and CO detectors can remind you to change their batteries. Hardwired detectors, since they connect to your main power supply, usually need to be installed by an electrician. Plug-In Detectors. This variety of detector is usually only used as a carbon monoxide detector and are a lot like hardwired detectors in that they still use your home’s power supply to operate. However, plug-in detectors are easier to use because they only need to be plugged into one of your home’s outlets. This means no professional installation is required. A plug-in detector will also come with backup battery power to protect your home even in a power outage. Battery-Powered Smoke Detectors After looking at the name of this type of smoke detector, there is no question as to what they do or how they work. Battery-powered smoke detectors are powered by batteries alone and have no connection to your home’s power supply. This means that these devices cannot interconnect with each other and that you will need to regularly change the batteries for each one in order for it to work since batteries are the only source of power. It also means that you can install these detectors on your own without the assistance of an electrician.

Each type of detector listed above describes both traditional and smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. As far as functionality goes, smart detectors are a lot like traditional smoke detectors and traditional carbon monoxide detectors. They just have some added technological advances. They still perform the fundamental tasks of monitoring the air for potentially dangerous smoke or carbon monoxide and sounding a warning alarm if they detect something out of the ordinary. The base function of a smart smoke detector is the same as that of a traditional smoke detector: to keep you, your family, and your belongings safe. So, if smart smoke detectors perform the same basic functions as a traditional smoke detector, what is all the fuss about? Why is it beneficial to invest in a smart smoke detector? The best way to answer these questions is to step away from the similarities and take a look at the differences between traditional and smart detectors—to look at the things that make them stand out. Both types of detectors are similar in the basic technology that they use to detect fires, but the benefits and features that smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have to offer help keep you and your family more safe than ever before. Cove provides a top of the line smart detector which goes beyond being just a CO or smoke sensor. The first alert is always the most important, so Cove has designed our detector to be both fast and capable when alerting you to potential fire threats or dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Smart smoke detectors offer a myriad of innovative features and helpful benefits that make them stand out as a superior option. Let’s take a look at what these features and benefits are. Self Check What comes to mind when you think of smoke detectors? Chances are that one of the first things that you think of is the annoying chirping that smoke detectors emit whenever it is time to replace the batteries. The worst part? Sometimes even though you can hear an alarm chirping, you still don’t know which alarm needs the new battery. Traditional smoke detectors recommend users check the batteries every six months. Batteries lose power over time and collect dust that can interfere with the connection between battery and appliance. With a smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector, the job of manually checking batteries is supported by self checks. Smart detectors check the status of your batteries hourly and automatically alert you when a battery is running low. They also text you or send you an alert to let you know which specific alarm needs new batteries so that you don’t have to check multiple devices, saving you time and sparing you frustration. In addition to checking batteries every six months, fire safety experts also recommend replacing smoke detectors after ten years of use. The older a smoke detector is, the more likely it is that it will have a malfunctioning sensor. This recommended replacement is meant to keep you protected from harm or accident by taking a proactive step toward preventing problems. Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors allow you to see how your individual detectors are performing and can help remind you when it is time to update your smoke detection system. Carbon Monoxide Detection Smart smoke detectors frequently double as carbon monoxide detectors as in this case.This combination reduces the number of devices that you need to purchase for your home. Carbon monoxide detectors monitor the amount of carbon monoxide gas in the air. Carbon monoxide can be released into the air by a number of common appliances such as heating elements or ovens. Carbon monoxide is poisonous and can lead to respiratory damage, brain damage, and death. It is virtually impossible to detect carbon monoxide without the help of technology, so it is essential to have multiple carbon monoxide detectors in your home. This makes smoke detectors the perfect companion appliance for carbon monoxide detectors: there should be multiple of each throughout the home, so it only makes sense to pair them together. Automatic Emergency Contact If you experience a fire in your home with traditional smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, the job of calling the fire department for help falls on your shoulders. Amidst making sure that your family and pets are safely out of the house, you have to frantically contact emergency officials to alert them of the fire inside of your home. Taking the time to pick up the phone and dial 911 wastes precious time that you don’t have in an emergency situation. Additionally, you might not even be home when a fire starts inside of your home. Without you there to call the local fire department, the fire could burn for hours before the neighbors notice and are able to call for help. One of the most beneficial features of smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that make them well worth the investment is their ability to automatically contact emergency officials in the case of an emergency. This prompt notification saves precious moments and eases your mental burden, leaving you to focus on what really matters most: your safety. Reasonable Price While smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors cost more than their traditional counterparts (smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors), smart detectors also offer lifesaving benefits. It is up to each person individually to decide if the added safety that smart smoke detectors provide is worth the extra price. Convenience and Safety The underlying theme that ties all of the features and benefits of smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors together is the convenience and safety that they offer. Smart smoke detector apps cut down response time and proactively keep you updated on the status of your batteries. These systems also make it easier for you to get in contact with your local fire department if you need emergency help.

Smart smoke detectors should be placed in all the same spots that traditional smoke detectors go. Regardless of whether or not your state requires you to install carbon monoxide sensors, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that every home have a carbon monoxide detector. The fire department recommends smoke detectors be placed near the ceiling and requires that they be found in: • Every level of your house, including the basement • Each bedroom • Near the kitchen • Near the bathroom Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should also be located • Outside of each bedroom • Every 1200 square feet • Far enough away from vents and fans that the heat from these appliances won’t cause a false alarm • Far enough away from kitchens and bathrooms to reduce the potential for cooking smoke or bath steam to cause a false alarm • Away from where the sensor could be affected by drafts, like next to windows • In a place where it is easy to clean (Don’t allowing the sensor to collect dust) • In a place where it won’t get knocked over If you have any questions about where to place smoke detectors inside of your own home, contact your local fire prevention officers. They are trained to assist you with all things relating to fire safety and prevention. In order to best place carbon monoxide sensors, people have sought an answer to whether the gas rises or falls in an air-filled room. Carbon monoxide is lighter than air, but only slightly. Because the weight difference between the two substances is so minimal, carbon monoxide does not settle in a neat area above the air in a room. Instead, its similar weight allows it to intermingle with the air, mixing in with what we normally breathe. It moves through rooms regularly with the flow of air.Since this deadly gas does not rest above or below the air in a room, it is okay to install a carbon monoxide alarm at practically any height. In fact, you may have noticed as you’ve gone into your friends’ homes that two of the most popular placements for these devices are up on the ceiling paired with smoke detectors (placed high up because smoke rises above air) and closer to the ground as a plug-in detector. Since this is a combination device, you’ll want to make sure that the Cove smoke and carbon monoxide detector is on or near the ceiling in order to accurately detect smoke. It could be detrimental to your safety to have your smoke and carbon monoxide detector placed near the ground.

Answer: If the carbon monoxide alarm for your device goes off, gather everyone in your home and evacuate immediately. Call 911 and do not re-enter the home until it has been deemed safe by emergency personnel. After learning that carbon monoxide is fatal when brought into the body in large amounts, you may wonder what to do if your alarm ever does go off. The first thing that you should do in the event of your alarm sounding is to remain calm. Gather everyone inside of your home (including pets) and get out of the house and into fresh air. Call 911 and report a gas leak at your home so that you can have professionals come and make sure that your home is safe. Immediately go to the hospital and get tested for carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not re-enter your home until emergency personnel have declared the inside of your home safe. This will involve giving your home time to air out, so you may not be able to go back inside immediately. Your Cove Touch Panel will sound an alarm and the monitoring center will call you, the authorities, and your emergency contacts.

It is unfortunately common for smoke detectors to sound a false alarm when whatever is cooking on the stove gets too hot or when the oven opens with a plume of smoke. In the instance of a false alarm, everyone's heart rate returns to normal once the blaring alarm is quieted, and peoples’ attention returns to whatever they were working on before the interruption. But why do so many smoke detectors sound false alarms? False alarms have a number of potential causes. Here are a few common causes and a few ideas of what you can do to reduce the number of false alarms your smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors issue. Potential causes for false alarms include: • Steam from hot showers or baths • Smoke from fires, but also smoke from cooking or baking • Dust that accumulates over time and disrupts the sensors • Excess heat from vents or water heaters • Bugs that disrupt the sensors One of the easiest ways to reduce the number of false alarms issued by a smoke detector is to reposition it. While smoke detectors are required to fall within a certain distance from each room and from each other, a smoke detector that is placed too close to the stove will issue many false alarms. These false alarms are annoying and may lead to someone disconnecting the sensor to prevent the alarm from sounding so frequently. This is the absolute worst thing that someone can do to a smoke detector. If a smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector is disabled, there is no way for it to provide you with safety and peace of mind. If you do reposition one of your smoke detectors, make sure that its new location still meets the requirements that have been established to keep you and your family safe. Another easy way to reduce false alarms is to clean your smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Cleaning your detectors regularly will also prevent false alarms in the long run. A can of compressed air can clean dust, dirt, and bugs that may have gotten lodged inside of your smoke detector. If repositioning and cleaning don’t minimize the number of false alarms your smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are having, check to see if the batteries are somehow dislodged. If you are tampering with your smart smoke detector in any way, it is important to remember to put it into test mode so that you don’t accidentally trigger a false alarm by interrupting the sensor. Remember to take your smart smoke detector out of test mode after you have finished. This will reactivate your alarm so that it can get back to what it is designed to do: protecting you and your family. You can also always contact your smoke detector’s customer care team to see if they can help you figure out the problem.

With ongoing advancements in security technology, a smart device or smart alarm is the best way to protect your home. Now that you know about the benefits that smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have to offer, it is time to decide if you are ready to install these life-saving devices in your home. While they may cost more than traditional detectors and while it will take time to install new detectors throughout your home, the peace of mind that they have to offer is priceless.