Smoke detectors are essential for the health and safety of every household. You might be wondering, how many smoke detectors do I need in my home? Do I have enough?
At Benchmark Electrical Services, our team would like to share tips when it comes to figuring out how many smoke detectors you need for your North Texas home.
What’s The Right Number Of Smoke Detectors?
There isn’t one number of detectors that applies to all houses. What’s right for your space depends on many factors. Every home is different. This means that the number and where they are placed will vary in each situation.
Here are some guidelines to follow when determining how many smoke detectors you need. When it comes to deciding on the right number, one device should be placed in:
- Each level of the home
- Each bedroom
- Outside each sleeping area
- The end of the hallway if multiple bedrooms are next to each other
Did you know there can never be too many smoke detectors in a home? As long as they are properly placed, you should be all set!
Does The Exact Position Of My Smoke Detector Matter?
In your kitchen, smoke detectors should be installed at least 10 feet away from cooking appliances. This distance is important because if you’re cooking on the stove, the smoke produced could set off a false alarm! Positioning your device the correct distance can reduce the occurrence of false alarms.
Smoke detectors should be installed on the ceiling, at least four inches away from corners and wall edges. Smoke rises, so it’s important to ensure the smoke alarm will sound if there is an emergency. If you’re installing the smoke detector on your wall, make sure it’s not more than 12 inches from the ceiling.
Do not install smoke detectors near windows or vents. Smoke can escape though these outlets and fail to trigger the alarm.
What To Know About Smoke Alarms Before You Install
Once you’ve determined how many smoke alarms you need, what’s next? Before installation, it’s important to know a few things about the features of a smoke detector.
There are two kinds of alarms. Smoke alarms are programmed to sense different types of smoke when a fire occurs. Ionization alarms sound more quickly when there is a flaming, fast moving fire present. Photoelectric alarms sound more quickly when there is a smoldering, smoky fire present. There’s no way of knowing which fire you’ll have before it happens. That’s why it’s recommended to get both kinds of smoke alarms.
Smoke detectors can be either battery-powered or hard wired to your home’s electrical system. Experts recommend hard wired if possible. These devices require less maintenance and can often be installed to connect to the other smoke alarms in your home.
Smoke Detector Installation
Now it’s time to get your chosen smoke detectors placed in your home through electric installation. For electrical safety, it’s best to get your alarms installed by a licensed electrician. At Benchmark Electrical Services we are here to help with the process. Our professionals can give the best recommendations along the way. Contact us today!