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What's the difference between traditional smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Utica?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Utica smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm discussion, there’s really only one victor. Smoke detectors are an important first step in protecting your place from emergency situations, but they have some notable shortcomings. On the other hand, monitored fire alarms provide more means to identify a potentially dangerous situation and can notify your support team when the unthinkable happens. Connecting your fire alarms to a comprehensive smart home also delivers various other perks that your ordinary smoke detectors could only hope for.

Regular smoke alarms will only do one thing

Defending against fire is a crucial consideration, and smoke detectors perform an essential role in shielding your family. However, smoke detectors have some limitations. For instance, they will only react to smoke, not extreme temperatures. In the event there is an emergency in your residence, you would not be alerted unless the smoke reaches the smoke detector. Even though there are further significant signals of fire -- such as a sudden increase in warmth -- if you don’t have smoke, you will fail to get a triggered smoke detector.

What’s more, smoke detectors only activate when they find ample smoke. If a fire creeps along slowly at first, you might not be cautioned until the situation is out of hand. Various smoke detectors use more than one sensor, meaning they will recognize smoke from both roaring flames and something less intense. Then when they start beeping, it's up to the resident to notify first responders after exiting the premises.

Monitored fire alarms provide more value than ordinary smoke detectors

While they look like traditional smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms offer more benefits. If linked to a complete home security installation, they will:

  • Discern fire with dual-sensor smoke detection: Like a traditional smoke detector, your monitored alarm has the ability to trigger from a roaring blaze or smoldering embers. It will resonate a high-volume beeping if it perceives a hazardous situation.
  • Discover fire due to a rapid temperature increase: A monitored fire alarm may also activate if it senses an uncommon heat surge. Frequently, heat is noticed prior to smoke. More ways to uncover a fire leads to additional methods to protect your loved ones.
  • Warns professional monitoring agents: Fires may take place whether you are at your house or not. No matter of the situation, your fire alarms will notify your monitoring specialists, who are able to quickly call first responders. When every moment matters, it's comforting to know that a trained professional is consistently watching over your home.
  • Integrates with home automation: Even though the chief task of a fire alarm is to identify an emergency and notify help, it will also integrate with other automated equipment. For example, a triggered alarm can make your system start the exhaust fan to slow the spread of fire or initiate the lights so you can see the safest way out of the house.

Your monitored fire alarms are an important aspect of a complete smart home

The simplest way to get the most from your fire alarms is to integrate them with a Vivint home security system. Consult with a Vivint expert today and find the perfect smart home for your family. Call (315) 819-0721 or send in the form on this page to begin.