Maintenance Tip from MD Home Inspections

Website Services Benefits Radon About Us Contact

In a previous tip, we discussed the importance of smoke detectors and the safety recommendations from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). You can read our previous tip here: Fire Alarm Safety.

This week's tip discusses the 2 types of smoke alarms you can place in your home: ionization smoke alarms and photoelectric smoke alarms. Each type of alarm is triggered by a different type of fire, and have places in your home where they may be more effective.

1) Ionization Smoke Alarms

Ionization smoke alarms respond to flaming fires. This type of alarm is triggered by smoke entering the chamber and interrupting a flow of ions created by an electric charge.

Where are they most effective? Ionization smoke alarms are commonly used in kitchen and living areas. This type of alarm can quickly detect small amounts of smoke that is produced by fast flaming fires.

Ionization alarms are weaker in high air-flow environments, can have a delayed warning for smoldering fires, and can be more susceptible to "nuisance" alarms (such as from normal cooking or steam from showers).

2) Photoelectric Smoke Detectors

Photoelectric smoke detectors respond to slow smoldering fires. This type of alarm has a light-sensitive electric sensor that is triggered when smoke scatters the light in the chamber of the detector.

Where are they most effective? Photoelectric alarms are commonly used in sleeping areas, as slow smoldering fires are less likely to be noticed at night while home occupants are sleeping.

3) Combination detectors

The NFPA states that for best protection, it is recommended to use both types of alarms in your home.

There are combination alarms that use both ionization and photoelectric technologies.

Additional security can include hard-wiring alarms in the home together so that all alarms sound off when any alarm is triggered (better for larger homes). Keep in mind that routinely changing batteries is still very important even if alarms are wired together.

*You can buy combination Carbon Monoxide detector and photoelectric smoke alarm, but there is not currently an alarm that combines both smoke detector types and Carbon Monoxide detection all in a single unit.

For more information about fire safety, visit the NFPA website.

We hope these tips have been helpful. Feel free to share it with anyone you think may benefit from it.

Call us today at 313-570-1618 and ask about our 2-man inspection service and unique benefits!

Sincerely,
Matt Mozurkewich
MD Home Inspections, LLC

313-570-1618

MD Home Inspections, LLC
313-570-1618 | [email protected] | http://www.md2inspect.com