Some of my fondest memories growing up come from sitting around the fireplace during the holiday season. The light crackling of the fire while we play games and drink hot cocoa—feeling safe and comfortable gathered with family and friends. These are all great things, but they are only achievable with the comprehensive protection of a good alarm system. Fire and carbon monoxide alarms come in all shapes, sizes, and especially quality. Installing a high-quality and reliable alarm system will allow you the peace of mind to relax and enjoy not only this holiday season, but many more to come.

Do I Need an Alarm?

A study done by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that smoke alarms were effective in almost 90% of home fires from 2014–2018, and most major fire-related injuries occurred in properties without smoke alarms. It estimates that having functioning alarms increases your chance of survival by 55%. Alarms should be installed on ceilings or high walls and should be at least 10ft away from the kitchen to avoid false alarms. The NFPA recommends testing your alarms once a month and replacing them every 10 years. Maybe it’s been a while, and you don’t remember swapping out your system in the last decade. If so, it’s likely time to look into some new alarms. Luckily for you, 1000Bulbs has got your back and your wellbeing with a selection of single and multi-function systems.

Different Kinds of Detectors:

Fire alarms—in the form of smoke detectors—and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are the most common systems in any given property. There are a couple of different kinds of each detector, but all of them are equally effective. Most of the time, smoke can be seen or smelled, but CO is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, so relying on your own senses is much less reliable. Smoke detectors usually operate in the form of a sensor that detects an alteration in the air caused by smoke or a steady, dramatic increase in temperature. Most CO detectors use a chemical reaction to detect when an excess of CO is present in any given room. These are especially important in kitchens, garages, and basements, where a gas leak may potentially go unnoticed.

Do I Need Both Detectors?

Most states require detectors on every floor of a building, including specific areas such as bedrooms, hallways, garages, and more. In some areas, you’re only required to have a smoke or CO detector, but in other areas you’re required to have both. That’s where combination alarms come in handy. This one alarm can detect both smoke and CO to save you time, space, and money without losing reliability. It’s also a good idea to have all of these detectors work in tandem so that when one is triggered, it triggers the other alarms. This way, you can be alerted no matter where you are in your house.

 Make sure to keep a close eye on your property’s smoke and CO detectors. Taking some extra precautions can help make for a comfortable and relaxing holiday season this year and the years to follow. Need help finding which system is best for you? Give us a call at 1-800-624-4488, or visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest, and stay safe!