Stay protected in your Des Moines home with these smoke detector installation tips

Did you invest in an older home only to realize that it doesn’t have enough smoke detectors or is missing them altogether? Even new homes may not have an adequate amount or in the right places. If you need to add these crucial safety elements, follow our smoke detector installation guidelines for Des Moines homes and learn why monitored alarms are preferred for your safety. 

Where to place your Des Moines smoke detectors

Since becoming widespread at the end of the 1970s, smoke detection equipment has saved countless lives. Despite the unmistakable benefit, many homes either don’t have an adequate amount or the devices they have aren’t functional. Wondering how essential they really are? Consider that the probability of losing your life in a house fire is decreased by 60 percent when your property has operational smoke alarms, as documented by the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA).

Follow these basic smoke detector installation guidelines when adding them to your Des Moines home:

• Put a smoke detector on each level of your dwelling, including your basement.
• Put them inside and outside each bedroom (and other sleeping areas).
• Call a licensed electrician for hardwired devices.
• For the best protection, bridge your smoke detectors so that if one is tripped, they all sound.
• Put them high on walls or on ceilings but be sure to circumvent dead air spots in corners or near the apex of a vaulted ceiling.
• Circumvent false alarms by keeping them out of kitchens and a minimum of 10 feet from stoves.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines.

The bulk of smoke detectors are functional for 5 years but don’t take them for granted. Test them monthly to confirm proper operation. 

Why are monitored smoke detectors a better idea?

Why not select smoke detectors that incorporate into your home’s security system for enhanced safety? Monitored devices offer the following perks:

• When a crisis takes place, you and your monitoring team will receive an alert. The warning will be dispatched to your cell phone via your home security app.
• Your fire alarm can initiate other smart sensors. For instance, you can power your HVAC system down to reduce the proliferation of flames and open your smart locks to facilitate your departure.
• Many contemporary smoke detectors use photoelectric sensors for improved safeguarding. They can sense rising heat levels before smoke even arrives.

Some models are dual-purpose units that better protect your household by detecting both fire and carbon monoxide. You’ll appreciate this multifunctional approach and the benefit of having a trained monitoring team at the ready. Professional monitoring agents can get emergency help to your house quicker.

Better protect your family with monitored smoke detector installation in Des Moines from Vivint

Better protect your home and loved ones with monitored smoke detectors in Des Moines from Vivint. You’ll gain access to photoelectric sensing, round-the-clock support, automatic notification, and custom-tailored home automation. Order your detectors today as part of a complete home security package. Call (515) 972-5232 to begin.