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Are there differences between traditional smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Concord?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Concord smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm debate, it's obvious that a monitored fire alarm is the better choice"> for your family. Smoke detectors are an important first step in protecting your residence from fire, but they have some notable shortcomings. Alternatively, monitored fire alarms provide more means to identify a fire and may notify your support team when disaster strikes. Linking your fire alarms to a security system also delivers many other perks that your ordinary smoke detectors could only dream about.

Traditional smoke alarms will only do one thing

Fire safety is a chief concern for homeowners, and smoke detectors play an essential part in safeguarding your family. Even so, smoke detectors have various limitations. For example, they can only detect smoke, not high temps. If there is an emergency in your residence, you may not be alerted unless the smoke rises to the smoke detector. While there are further unmistakable signs of fire -- like a sudden increase in warmth -- if there's no smoke, there is no warning from your smoke detector.

What’s more, smoke detectors only activate when they detect an adequate amount of smoke. In the event a fire begins slowly, you might not be warned until it's too late. Many smoke detectors use dual sensors, which means they will recognize smoke from both a blazing inferno and a more gradual burn. Then when they sound their alarm, it’s required of the homeowner to contact emergency services after exiting the property.

Monitored fire alarms do much more than regular smoke detectors

While they have a similar appearance to traditional smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms can do much more. When connected to a comprehensive home security package, they are able to:

  • Detect fire with multi-sensor technology: Comparable to an ordinary smoke detector, this monitored device has the ability to engage from a roaring blaze or smoldering embers. It will emit a high-volume alarm if it recognizes a potential disaster.
  • Detect fire with a rapid heat surge: Your monitored fire alarm can even go off if it notices an unusual fluctuation in temperature. Frequently, heat is noticed prior to smoke. Added means to identify a fire equates to additional methods to safeguard your family.
  • Alerts your dedicated monitoring representatives: Fires will happen when you are at your house or not. Regardless, your fire alarms will alert your monitoring agents, who are able to swiftly place a call to emergency services. When every tick of the clock is critical, it's great to realize that a trained professional is constantly watching over your house.
  • Integrates with home automation: While the chief task of a fire alarm is to recognize an emergency and call for monitoring agents, it will also integrate with other automated equipment. For instance, a tripped alarm could prompt your system to engage the exhaust fan to impede the spread of fire or trigger lighting so you are able to find the safest exit out of the property.

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

The best approach to maximize the functionality of your fire alarms is to pair them with a Vivint home security system. Consult with a Vivint security agent today and find the perfect smart home for your family. Call (802) 909-3379 or submit the form on this page to get started.