Self-installation of a smoke detector for a business may violate local fire code ordinances. Professional installation may be required in your municipality. Please consult your local fire marshall for clarification.

The base function of a smart smoke alarm is the same as that of traditional detectors: to keep you, your family, and your home safe. However, smart detectors have special technology that senses a problem quicker than traditional sensors. The first alert is always the most important—that’s why we used smart technology to create a detector that immediately alerts you about potential fires. Smart detectors also let you connect your devices to your phone to always have access to what’s happening in your home, no matter where you are.

Smart smoke detectors offer myriad innovative features and helpful benefits that make them stand out as a superior option. Some of these include:

Self-check: Smart smoke detectors check the status of your batteries hourly and automatically alert you when a battery is running low. They also text you or send you an alert to let you know which specific alarm needs new batteries, so you don’t have to check multiple devices.

Check detector health: Smart detectors let you see how each detector is performing and reminds you when it's time to update your detection system.

Automatic emergency contact: Smart detectors can automatically contact emergency officials to ease your mental burden and focus on your family’s safety during an emergency.

Convenience and safety: Advanced technology keeps your family safer by quickly detecting smoke.

With ongoing advancements in security technology, a smart device or smart alarm is the best way to protect your home. While they may cost more than traditional detectors, and it may take some time to install new detectors throughout your home, the peace of mind smart detectors can offer is priceless.

A smart fire detector should be placed in all the same spots that traditional detectors go. The fire department recommends fire detectors be placed near the ceiling and requires that they be found in:

• Every level of your house, including the basement
• Every bedroom
• Near the kitchen
• Near the bathroom
• Every 1200 square feet
• Far enough away from vents and fans that the heat from these appliances won’t cause false alarm
• Far enough away from kitchens and bathrooms to reduce the potential for cooking smoke or batch steam to cause a false alarm
• Away from where the sensor could be affected by drafts, such as next to windows
• In a place where it is easy to clean (don’t allow the sensor to collect dust)

If you have any questions about where to place smoke detectors inside your home, contact your local fire prevention officers. They are trained to assist you with all things related to fire safety and prevention.

If the fire alarm in your home goes off, check for fires. If you discover a fire, gather small children in your home and evacuate immediately. Every second counts, so don’t spend time gathering items or getting dressed. When leaving, don’t open any inside doors without feeling it first. If it’s hot or you see smoke coming through the cracks, find a different exit. Once you enter a door, be sure to close it immediately. If the air is smokey, stay close to the floor. Once outside, ensure everyone is accounted for. Call 911, and don’t return to your home until fire officials say it’s safe.

Unfortunately, it’s common for smoke detectors to sound a false alarm when something cooking on the stove gets too hot or when the oven opens with a plume of smoke. One of the easiest ways to reduce the number of false alarms is to reposition your detector away from stoves, showers, vents, and water heaters. Another way to prevent false alarms is to clean your detectors regularly.

If repositioning and cleaning don’t minimize the number of false alarms, check to see if the batteries are dislodged. If you’re still having false alarm issues, contact your detector’s customer care team to see if they can help you fix the problem. Anytime you tamper with your smoke detector, remember to put it into test mode, so you don’t accidentally trigger a false alarm. Be sure to take it out of test mode once you’re done.