There is no doubt that smoke detectors save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is estimated that more than 45 percent of fires start in homes that lack smoke detectors. Because of this, 65 percent of fatalities due to house fires come from homes without smoke alarms. With most fires starting at night, homes without smoke detectors put residents at a huge risk, as a fire alarm alerts the potential victims to a fire long before the fire spreads and it becomes to late to escape. With these chilling facts, it is more important than ever to make sure families hire an electrician in Miami or a Coral Gables expert electrician to make sure smoke detectors are working and properly installed in the home.
Smoke and fire alarms can come in even more elaborate models such as those systems that link to a call center, like a burglar alarm system. Other systems can be designed to call the local fire department or even call or email the owners. Regardless of how sophisticated an owner chooses in their type of alarm, experts agree the most important thing is to have some type of system that alerts owners with a loud sound. Another recommendation is to have an alarm that also detects carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is the odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that leads to approximately 400 deaths annually, and causes over 20,000 hospital visits per year. Even if the fire alarm does not contain a carbon monoxide detector, owners are urged to install one separately in their homes.
Just having smoke detectors in the home is not enough. Too often, people neglect to test their smoke detectors or check the batteries periodically. In over 75% of the cases where smoke alarms did not activate, a missing or faulty battery was the common culprit. For every 12 people that die per 1000 home fires in the U.S. with a smoke detector, that number skyrockets to 17 deaths per 1000 home fires when the smoke alarm was not present or did not activate.
According to the Red Cross, smoke alarms are necessities in every level of the home, inside the bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Smoke alarms should be tested every month and replaced every five years. Because of the huge increase in fire fatalities from old or non-working smoke detectors, using a good Coral Gables electrician or other professional electricians in Miami is so important. Using a professional to make sure the home is safe in case of a fire is of vital importance to protecting one’s family and property.
Whether one chooses an ionization alarm or a photoelectric alarm, both types meet the standards of Underwriters Laboratories according to the National Association of State Fire Marshals. In an ionization alarm, the detector uses ions (electrically charged particles) to detect smoke in the air. With a photoelectric alarm, the device uses light sensors and a beam of light. An ionization alarm detects small smoke particles faster, while the photoelectric alarm is quicker to detect large smoke particles. While each has their advantages, both qualify as acceptable in the home. Regardless of which one chosen, home owners need to make sure their Coral Gables electrician or other electrician in Miami is utilized to make sure the home is properly fitted with enough working smoke detectors for true fire safety.