Home Removal Services Blog

Fires are one of the most preventable accidents in the home, yet many people die in a house fire due to faulty or missing fire alarms. Using and maintaining proper fire alarm equipment can prevent deaths. Fire alarms, when used correctly, can save lives by alerting you to smoke or heat.

The most important part of any fire alarm system is the smoke detector. Smoke detectors can save your life by alerting you to smoke from fire. You can find many smoke detectors that can also detect the odorless, but deadly carbon monoxide. Most rooms in the home should be equipped with a smoke detector. The number of smoke detectors in your home is determined by its size. Some areas may require several smoke detectors. All smoke detectors rely on batteries for power. Newly built homes will have smoke detectors already hooked to the electrical wiring, but they still contain a backup battery. Change your battery at least once a year, and check each smoke detector to make sure it works.

Heat detectors can save lives by alerting you to a large temperature increase or dramatic change in temperature. A rate-of-raise heat detector determines how fast the temperature is changing. A quick rise in temperature over one minute can sound the alarm. A fixed temperature heat detector measures a large increase in temperature, and will sound when it reaches the temperature threshold.

Heat detectors cannot be used without a smoke detector because smoke is more likely to kill you than the flames. Smoke can also be detected first before flames are even present. Heat detectors are great to pair with smoke detectors since you can use heat detectors in the kitchen or other areas where smoke detectors would sound too easily. When choosing a heat detector, be sure to place the right one in a room where it will not be so sensitive. The fixed temperature heat detector may be more suitable in the kitchen since cooking can increase the temperature too quickly.

Sprinklers systems can save lives by putting out a fire before it has the chance to destroy the entire house. Once a specific temperature is reached, the sprinklers will release water over the fire. Each sprinkler head must be activated in order to release water. If a fire breaks out in one area of the house, only the sprinkler heads in that area will release water. This gives the sprinkler heads more pressure and water to put out the fire.

While a sprinkler system can cause water damage, it can save your home from complete destruction. Waiting for firefighters to extinguish the flames can cause a bigger fire, and more water is needed to put it out. It is much cheaper to repair a small area of water damage than it is to replace your entire home.

Fire alarms can save lives and property. While a smoke detector is necessary for any home or business, combining it with heat detectors and sprinkler systems can increase the survival of people and property.

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