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Save Safely on Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms

By Nadine Cheung Posted 10:00AM 05/25/12 Savings Experiment, Home & Garden |
Savings Experiment: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector?

Did you find our video on alarms helpful?


Every home should have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, but with so many different kinds on the market, it's difficult to know which is the best option. You want to save money, but you also want to make sure what you're buying will save your life.

Combination alarms like the 2-in-1 smoke and carbon monoxide detector from First Alert will cost you $27. However, while it's good for your wallet, it's not the best for safety. There are two types of fires that need to be detected, and combination alarms are usually only effective in detecting one.

Large, fast-burning fires require ionization alarms, while small, smoldering fires are detected by photoelectric alarms. So, what's the solution? A dual sensor alarm. First Alert makes a dual sensor smoke alarm that includes both an ionization and photoelectric alarm for $21.

Of course, that doesn't help you in the carbon monoxide detection department. To cover all of your bases, you'll want to buy a separate carbon monoxide alarm. First Alert makes a model for $25, which will bring your total cost to $46 for both units, but you'll be better off in the long run for it. Carbon monoxide detectors need to be replaced more often, so you might as well get two alarms.

Smoke AlarmAccording to the National Fire Protection Association, you should "install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement." The cost of this coverage may add up, but when it comes to your safety, you don't want to skimp.
Tagged: best smoke alarms, BestSmokeAlarms, carbon monoxide alarms, CarbonMonoxideAlarms, dual alarm smoke detectors, DualAlarmSmokeDetectors, fire safety, FireSafety, first alert, FirstAlert, for the home,

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stanaug

In Massachusetts u can't have ionization type smoke detectors within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom, must be photoelectric

September 23 2012 at 6:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Susie

The BEST smoke alarms are the ones that are BOTH ionization and photoelectric. First Alert sells them for about $20 at most stores that sell smoke alarms. They have the letters IP on the package and are called "dual sensor."

I sw a demo of these over a decade ago, where a lit cigarettte was placed in a small trashcan next to a sofa. The dual sensor alarm went off before any smoke was visible above the trash can. The OTHER smoke alarm didn't go off until after the sofe EXPLODED.

That's right, folks. You THINK the arm of the sofa would catch fire, then the flames would move across the sofa. But that's not true. Heat builds up inside the sofa, and it EXPLODES!

NOT the best way to be awakened from a nap!

I have 10 smoke alarms in my home, including the attic, garage and basement. I write the purchase date on them and replace one per year, as their life expectancy is ten years. That way there is a fresh alarm in every general area. GREAT for detecting smoldering wires inside of walls!

BTW, this type of alarm detected a smoking wire inside my George Foreman grill from THE NEXT ROOM, when there was NO smell of smoke within an inch of the grill! I only discovered what it was detecting when it repeatedly went off whenever the grill was plugged in, even if it was clean and empty!

August 03 2012 at 6:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hunnie Gunnie

Just buy some Jiffy Pop Popcorn...The kind you pop yourself on the stove...It makes a awesome fire alarm!!!

August 03 2012 at 10:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
c2t2beau

Send out a list of only to good alarms, Please....

August 03 2012 at 9:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
michaelcristoforo

I invented a Co Detector about four years ago. It can when detects excellerated amounts of Co opens the Garage door, by learning the rolling code, also shuts off cars Keyed or Keyless start, which is the cause what most of the Co poisionings , will shut the car down (learns the key fob code), so even if you forget to shut your car and close your garage it will be able to shut down your car. also links with On-Star or any other sattelite
company so that they can call you and notify you, that your garage has opened and your car has shut down.
In all this time we have pitched this to many car companies and garage door opener companies. If anyone has any ideas or interest michaelcristoforo@aol.com
anyone interested, michaelcristoforo@aol.com

August 03 2012 at 8:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
michaelcristoforo

check out the only Co detector that when excellerated levels are detected in a garage the detector will open the garage door, (learns the rolling code) also shuts off cars keyed or keyless. Also shuts off generators, and can communicate with On-Star or any sattelite company, and they will be able to call you and tell you your garage is open and your car was shut down. I invented this over three years ago, and still have no offers from Toyota, Gm, or Chamberlian Garage door openers, as these companies really do not care about saving lives, For more info see cleartheairnow.net. or call me at 772-285-4375

August 03 2012 at 8:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to michaelcristoforo's comment
Steve

Today's professional alarm panels have built in on board relays that do the same thing. When a relay is tripped, it can be programmed to operate anything. When a CO detector is tripped, garage doors openers can also be operated.
However, I have never heard of anything that will shut a car engine off. You may have something there.

September 01 2012 at 12:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
realcode04

Don't like or can't afford monitoring fees? Program your alarm panel to call YOU and/or neighbors. That way you can decide if emergency services are needed. In 99% of the cases, the response time ranges from exactly the same as a monitoring station or just a couple minutes slower.

It's also a way to cut down on false alarm fines if you have a falsing problem. In which case the monitoring station will call emergency services whether it's a false alarm or not. It only takes 3 or 4 false alarms to cost more than the alarm system itself. Besides, and after that many false alarms, they will refuse to respond anyways.

August 03 2012 at 7:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to realcode04's comment
Steve

Having an alarm system that isn't monitored isn't smart. The discounts given by insurance companies covers a large part of the monitoring costs. Besides, you can always have the monitoring company call you first before dispatching, if you are worried about false alarms.
MJost false alarms are user error. The balance is normally associated with the equipment. Usually door sensors that need adjusment as your home settles. Or motion detectors that pick up movement from things like drapes blowing when the AC or heat kick on etc.
Many times when we hear of someone dying in a house fire, it is because the smoke caused the death.
Many sleep right through a smoking fire in the miffle of the night. Heat from a fire may wake up some. Yet, smoke may not. Besides, while not home, an alarm without monitoring is worthless. And that is when we need our home protected the most,
Monitoring costs around a dollar a day. Pretty cheap to protect the lives of our loved ones and our property.

September 01 2012 at 12:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
georgezula

smoke detectord work good also heat detectors for kitchen are ok--se its not triping the smoke just heat--or

combination of smoke and heat detector

adt monitoring is 30 per month---tesla electronic security--same monitoring is $ 15 per month,,,,,u compare

thanks,,,,,

May 31 2012 at 5:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jerbogart

Wasn't there just a story yesterday, that the combination units were a deadly accident waiting to happen? Or perhaps I should read the whole article instead of just the heading?

May 31 2012 at 12:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
D Sting Kat Awet

First alert alarms are so easy to put up and well worth the peace of mind. We purchased from ULINE.com
and they ship fast and replace fast. First Alert and ULINE are great. We have a separate Carbon Monoxide
alarm and it does last about 6-7 months where the others lasts years. So do buy that one separate. The alarms work. Have one in the kichen and sometimes I forget to put the overhead fan on and it sounds off. Loud but reassuring to know it does its job. LOL get ADT, hello, the police would be called many times because I always forget to put the fan on. and Right on jwaw1111. It was be nice to know?? david termini so what are the names of these "gas" appliance alarms.

May 31 2012 at 11:52 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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