Smoke Alarm Installation, Oakville
With smoke alarms being at the forefront of your home’s fire protection system, it’s important to have them properly installed and replaced when required.
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Smoke Alarm Installation, Oakville
Smoke alarm installation and maintenance are essential for the safety of your home. The modern house is home to many electronics and a lot of internal wiring, making the likelihood of a fire significantly higher compared to the last decade. To maximize escape time, a sufficient amount of smoke alarms must be installed in the right ways and in the right locations. Working with wiring can be dangerous and with such specific requirements for installation, it’s best to have a licensed electrical contractor get the project done.
When shopping for the right detector for your home, a licensed electrician will be familiar with all the latest and best smoke alarms on the market. Generally, smoke alarms utilize two types of technology: ionization and photoelectric. Ionization smoke alarms are built to be more responsive to flaming fires, while photoelectric smoke alarms are more responsive to smoldering fires. It’s required for each bedroom to have smoke detectors that respond to both flaming and smoldering fires, which is why the best protection in smoke alarm installation comes with combination ionization-photoelectric alarms (commonly called dual sensor smoke alarms).
During smoke alarm installation, homeowners also have two options for what power source they would like their smoke alarms to utilize. Hard-wired alarms are directly connected to a home’s circuitry and will usually have back-up batteries, allowing it to continue to work in case of a power outage. These alarms are generally considered more reliable.
On the other hand, alarms that only utilize batteries will definitely continue to work throughout a power failure, and come in two types. The first requires regular replaceable batteries (usually double or triple A), with batteries that need to be replaced at least once every year. The second uses sealed lithium batteries that last for the lifetime of the alarm. After the battery runs out, the entire unit needs to be replaced. To figure out which kind of alarm is best for your needs, it’s best to consult with an electrician.
Contact MADE ELECTRIC for more information on smoke alarm installation! We operate within the GTA and Oakville to ensure that your smoke alarms are installed correctly and replaced when needed to keep you and your property safe from the threat of fires.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What should be avoided during smoke alarm installation?
For installation, smoke alarms should not be placed near ducts, doors, or windows, since the draft coming in can interfere with whether it is able to properly detect smoke and fire. Once installed, it’s important to also avoid doing anything that may prevent it from working. This can include avoiding painting the smoke alarms or placing decorations or stickers on it.
Where do smoke alarms need to be installed?
For smoke alarms to work as intended, they need to be installed in the correct locations to detect threats. Therefore, they need to be mounted on high walls and ceilings, since smoke from fires rise to high places. For alarms mounted on walls, they should be installed no more that 12 inches away from the ceiling to ensure they are placed high enough. Of course, where smoke alarms need to be installed can be unique depending on the structure of your ceilings and what the layout of your home looks like, which is why it’s best to consult a professional.
When should I replace my smoke alarm?
Generally, smoke alarms should be replaced every 5-10 years. The exact timing depends on the type of smoke alarm and its power source. For example, some smoke alarms come with non-replaceable batteries set to last for 10 years. Once the battery runs out, the entire alarm needs to be replaced. Other alarms (such as those with replaceable batteries) should be renewed every 5 years if necessary.