Hardwired Smoke Detectors Are Essential to Home Safety

In many states hardwired smoke detectors are mandatory in newer homes so be sure to check with your local inspector or fire department.

Interconnected detectors will sound an alarm when any one unit detects fire or smoke.
 
If you have hardwired smoke detectors without batteries or worst case scenario, smoke detectors with dead batteries then the safety of your family is an accident waiting to happen. You should take all precautions to install working smoke detectors that can sound the alarm to insure your family safely exists in the event of a fire.
 
Installing a hardwired smoke detector system is one of the best alarm systems on the market as there is no need to change batteries every couple of months. Hardwired smoke detectors use a backup battery so that if power goes out it will still operate.

As effective as having a hardwired interconnected smoke detector in your home is one should still get into the habit of regularly recharging or testing the alarms.

There have been complaints of hardwired smoke detectors batteries often give out false alarms or the batteries make a chirping sound which usually indicates the battery strength is waning. Most batteries should be replaced twice a year and a good precaution is to mark the date the batteries were first installed.
 
The USFA does recommend hardwired smoke detectors be installed by qualified electricians. This is also the case when replacing these devices. Again, protection of your family in the event of a fire is the goal. One never knows when this happens so preparing your home in advance is highly recommended and in these days mandatory. You just never know but can have peace of mind when you've prepared for this unplanned event.

Each year many people or injured or killed by smoke and fire so don't take this for granted or put it off until later. It could happen tonight or never.

You can easily avoid these tragedies by installing hardwired smoke detectors in the hallways and inside the bedroom. Interconnected hardwired smoke detectors are designed to warn of fire or smoke by going off simultaneously when the incident occurs. Not only is the source of the fire nearest the alarm sounding a warning, but because fires spread so rapidly, all alarms warn of the localized fire.
 
Hardwired fire detectors also have backup batteries. These are important in the event of an electrical fire that causes an interruption in electrical power.  The standard rating is 125 volts for most electrical fire detectors. Batteries supplement this power and keep the detector working when the amount of current is not available. Smoke rises towards the ceiling when fueled by a fire. Hardwired smoke detectors are designed to detect the rising smoke.

Ceiling installations of smoke detectors are the most common place people believe hardwired smoke detectors should be installed. But in actuality the better locations are high on the walls.

According to authorities in the fire extinguisher business, gasses generated from burning foam force smoke to concentrate about twelve inches below the ceiling. This is often the case when sofas are on fire or other appliances with foam construction. So, if your hardwired detector is on the ceiling the fire may rage longer before being detected.

Therefore, it is ideal to locate the detector on the wall about twelve inches below the ceiling. Ideal locations for fire detector placement would be in hallways, bedrooms, living rooms and in the kitchen away from stoves, microwaves and countertop broilers. In the end, smoke detectors should be installed in every room in the home, including attics and garages.