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A significant portion of the property damage incidents which occur each year are attributable to household fires. Yet, many overlook the importance of having an effective smoke detector installed in the home. Art Plumbing, AC and Electric has years of experience in smoke detector installation, and we’ve got all the advice you need to help you make smart decisions about fire safety in your home.
There are two main types of smoke detectors available: battery-operated smoke detectors and smoke detectors which are hard-wired to your home’s main electrical circuit. Since Florida Statute 553.883 came into effect in 2015, whenever a battery-operated smoke detector is replaced in a home or a new smoke detector installed, the new detector must be powered by a non-removable and non-replaceable battery with a minimum lifespan rating of 10 years. This is the case for all one-family and two-family homes in Florida, unless the home is equipped with a centralized smoke alarm system connected to the main electrical circuit. The Florida Statutes also require that smoke detectors be placed in every sleeping room in the house, and on every level of the house.
In every smoke detector installation process, there comes a point where the homeowner will need to decide whether to install a battery-operated smoke detector or a smoke detector which is hard-wired to the home’s electrical mains.
Battery-powered smoke detectors are independent devices which are not connected to any main alarm system. The devices emit a localized alarm when the presence of smoke is registered by the detector. While battery-powered smoke detectors are cheaper than hard-wired smoke detectors, and generally easier to install, they do come with disadvantages. First, battery-powered smoke detectors are not connected to or able to communicate with each other, which means that if a smoke detector goes off in one room of the house, the detector in another part of the house will not go off (at least not until the smoke spreads to that room). This greatly undermines the purpose of having smoke detectors in the first place, as if an occupant who is busy on one level of the house is not able to hear the alarm a level or two below, the early warning will fail to reach them. Another disadvantage is that the batteries of battery-powered detectors will eventually run out, and you may forget to replace them, putting you and your family at risk.
Electrically-connected smoke detectors require a more complicated installation process, but they are generally more effective. Since they are connected to the home’s electrical mains, they will not run out of power, so you won’t need to worry about replacing batteries. These types of smoke detectors are generally installed together with a backup battery pack, in case of a power outage. The greatest benefit of electrically-connected smoke detectors is that they form part of an integrated smoke alarm system in your home, which is designed to be as effective as possible in alerting all occupants to a fire. The smoke detectors are all a part of one single system, so they are able to communicate with each other via electrical signals. This means that if smoke is detected in one room of the house, all the other smoke detectors on all other levels of the home will also sound their alarms. This increases the chances of early detection of a fire, and therefore increases the chances of saving lives and minimizing damage.
Installing an effective smoke detector is vital to the safety of your family and your home. If you’re considering installing a new smoke detector, consulting a professional electrician should be your first step. A licensed electrician will be able to advise you on the placement of smoke detectors in your home and on the types of smoke detectors available, as well as ensure that your home’s fire alarm system complies with Florida’s statutes and regulations. An experienced electrician will ensure that all wiring is faultless and will also be able to offer you the latest technology in smoke detector home solutions. At Art Plumbing, AC and Electric, our electricians will provide all this and more – don’t hesitate to contact us today for only the best smoke detector installation services.
