Stay safe in your Birmingham home with these smoke detector installation tips

Did you invest in an older home only to find that it doesn’t have enough smoke detectors or is missing them entirely? Even more recently built dwellings might not have an adequate amount or in the proper places. If you need to add these vital safety devices, follow our smoke detector installation guidelines for Birmingham homes and discover why monitored alarms are preferred for your safety. 

Where to put your Birmingham smoke detectors

Since becoming common at the end of the 1970s, smoke detectors have saved a multitude of lives. Despite the clear benefit, quite a few residences either don’t have enough or the ones they have aren’t functional. Still debating if you really should have them? You should consider that the likelihood of perishing in a residential fire is cut by 60 percent when you have operational fire alarms, according to the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA).

Follow these simple smoke detector installation recommendations when adding them to your Birmingham home:

• Put a smoke detector on each level of your dwelling, including your lower level.
• Place them in and on the outside of each bedroom (and any other sleeping area).
• Hardwired devices should only be installed by certified electricians.
• For superior protection, link your smoke detectors so that if one is set off, they all go off.
• Place them on ceilings or high on walls while circumventing dead air spots around the corners or near the peak of a vaulted ceiling.
• Circumvent false alarms by keeping them out of kitchens and at least 10 feet from cooktops.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s installation directions.

The bulk of smoke detectors last around 5 years but don’t take them for granted. Test them once a month to verify proper function. 

Why are monitored smoke detectors a better idea?

Why not choose smoke detectors that incorporate into your home security system for enhanced safety? Monitored components offer the following perks:

• If a crisis occurs, you and your monitoring agents will receive an alert. The alert will be sent to your smartphone through your home security app.
• Your fire alarm can initiate other equipment. For example, you can power your cooling and heating system down to reduce the proliferation of flames and open your smart locks to aid your exit.
• Many contemporary smoke detectors use photoelectric sensors for better safeguarding. They can identify elevating heat levels before the arrival of smoke.

Some models are combination units that better protect your family by sensing both carbon monoxide and fire. You’ll like this added functionality and the value of having a trained monitoring staff on your side. Round-the-clock monitoring specialists can get emergency help to your door quicker.

Take a safer approach with monitored smoke detector installation in Birmingham from Vivint

Better protect your family and home with monitored smoke detectors in Birmingham from Vivint. You’ll enjoy immediate notifications, custom-tailored home automation, photoelectric sensing, and 24-7 support from trained specialists. Order your detectors today as part of a comprehensive home security package. Dial (205) 973-4125 to learn more.