How Many Smoke Detectors Do You Need in Your House?

Smoke detectors are essential in any home, no matter where you live or what kind of house you have. They are critical in alerting occupants to the presence of smoke so that people can safely exit the home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of five fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

Whether you’ve just moved into a home and need new smoke detectors or you want to upgrade the ones you have, calling an electrician in St. Louis is critical to this process. They can assess the situation in your home and suggest the best course of action.

Ideal Number and Placement

According to the Missouri Department of Public Safety, smoke alarms must be installed in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnection of all smoke alarms throughout the home is highly recommended, which means if one alarm goes off, they all go off. This type of smoke alarm system must be professionally wired by an electrician.

The square footage of your home has a lot to do with how many smoke detectors you need. For example, the average three-story, three-bedroom home contains six smoke detectors: one on each level and one in each room.

These devices should not be installed near vents or appliances such as the stove, as these tend to emit heat and smoke frequently. Don’t set up smoke detectors near windows, which will affect how quickly the device can identify unhealthy levels of smoke.

Ensuring Fire Safety

To ensure your smoke alarms are working correctly, you should periodically check them by pushing the test button. If your alarms are interconnected, make sure each one sounds when you press the button. In addition, plan at least two escape routes out of the home, and practice them with your family regularly. Depending on the type of alarm you have, change the batteries twice a year (at daylight savings time) and test them monthly to ensure proper operation.

Why Hardwired Smoke Detectors Are Best

There are many reasons why hardwired smoke alarm systems are best for safety.

Whole House Coverage

There are only a few precious minutes to exit the home safely in the event of fire. If a fire were to break out on the top floor and you sleep in the basement, you may not hear the alarm with a traditional battery-powered system. But if you have an interconnected smoke alarm system, the basement alarm will go off at the same time the top floor alarm does.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says most fatalities in home fires are in a different room than where the fire started.

Dependability

A hardwired system ensures all smoke alarms have been connected to a central power supply. This gives you constant power for a working smoke alarm. Battery operated alarms that work independently of each other are only as good as the battery in them.

Smoke Detector & Electrical O’Fallon, MO

For smoke alarm hardwiring, rely on our O’Fallon, St. Charles, and St Louis. MO electricians to provide this important service. Just contact us at 636-294-8562 for a free quote on smoke detectors and service.

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