Where Your Smoke Alarms Should Go

10/9/2023 (Permalink)

It is vital to know where to place your smoke alarms

How Do You Know Which Smoke Detector To Get, and Where It Should Be Placed?

Smoke detection technologies include ionization smoke detection and photoelectric smoke detection.

• Ionization: this smoke detector is especially responsive to flaming fires

How it works: The Ionization smoke alarm has a little bit of radioactive material in-between two electrically-charged plates. These ionize the air while causing a current to flow in between the two plates.

Whenever smoke enters its chamber, it disrupts the flow of ions. This reduces the flow of current, activating the alarm.

• Photoelectric: this smoke detector is very responsive to a fire that begins after a long period of smoldering

How it works: Photoelectric smoke alarms work by aiming a light source into a sensing chamber. The chamber is at an angle, away from the sensor. The moment smoke enters its chamber, it reflects light onto the light sensor. This triggers the alarm.

Most fatal home fires are smoldering fires. The rest are flaming fires. It may be impossible to predict the type of fire you could have. All smoke alarm technology needs to perform acceptably for both types of fires. 

Always place a smoke alarm on every floor, and in every sleeping room:

• Inspect every smoke detector once a month, and always change the batteries once a year. Your smoke detector will sense abnormal amounts of smoke - or invisible combustion gases escaping into the air.
• Every detector will detect both smoldering and burning fires. Always place at least one smoke detector on every level of your house. This way no matter what floor it is on - you can locate the nearest extinguisher more quickly.

If you ever have to suffer through the horrible event of a loss for any reason, it’s important to know that the caring professionals at , SERVPRO of Streamwood, Bartlett, West Chicago and Warrenville are there for you.