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Is there a difference between traditional smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Fort Smith?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Fort Smith smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm discussion, there’s only one victor. Smoke detectors are an important consideration in guarding your place from a dangerous blaze, but they have a few concerning shortcomings. Alternatively, monitored fire alarms have more ways to discover a potentially dangerous situation and may notify your support team when disaster strikes. Pairing your fire alarms to a security system also delivers various additional advantages that your common smoke detectors would only dream about.

Your traditional smoke alarms in Fort Smith might be inadequate

Fire safety is important, and smoke detectors take on a critical part in keeping your family safe. Even so, smoke detectors have their drawbacks. To illustrate, they can only react to smoke, not high temps. When there is a fire in your residence, you may not be alerted unless the smoke rises to the smoke detector. Even though there are further telltale signs of fire -- including a marked heat increase -- if you don’t have smoke, there is no warning from your smoke detector.

Additionally, smoke detectors only beep if they encounter enough smoke. If a fire creeps along slowly at first, you may not be cautioned until it's too late. Many smoke detectors utilize dual-sensor technology, which means they will be able to perceive smoke from both a raging fire and a more gradual burn. Then when they start beeping, it's up to the occupant to contact emergency services after exiting the property.

Monitored fire alarms offer more benefits than ordinary smoke detectors

Although they look about the same as standard smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms have added advantages. If linked to a total home security installation, they will:

  • Detect fire with dual-sensor smoke detection: Similar to a standard smoke detector, this monitored alarm has the ability to trigger from a roaring blaze or smoldering embers. It will emit a high-volume beeping when it senses a potential disaster.
  • Discover fire with a abrupt rise in heat: Your monitored fire alarm may even go off if it discerns an abnormal increase in heat. Typically, heat is noticed in advance of smoke. More ways to uncover a fire leads to extra means to keep your family safe.
  • Notifies trained monitoring specialists: Fires will occur whether you are home or away. Regardless, your fire alarms will alert your monitoring specialists, who will rapidly call emergency services. When every moment matters, it's great to realize that a trained professional is constantly keeping a watch of your residence.
  • Integrates with home automation: Even though the chief task of a fire alarm is to identify fire and call for help, it will also integrate with other automated components. For example, a activated alarm could prompt your system to engage the exhaust fan to impede the fire or turn on smart light bulbs so you are able to locate the safest exit out of your home.

Your monitored fire alarms are a key element of a fully equipped smart home

The best method to optimize your fire alarms is to pair them with a Vivint home security system. Consult with a Vivint specialist today and find the most suitable smart home for your family. Diall (479) 370-4503 or send in the following form to begin.