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Is there a difference between regular smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Sandy Springs?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Sandy Springs smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm debate, there’s really only one champion. Smoke detectors are an important line of defense in protecting your residence from emergency situations, but they have several drawbacks. On the other hand, monitored fire alarms have more methods to discover an emergency and may notify help in the event of a disaster. Pairing your fire alarms to a comprehensive smart home also delivers additional perks that your common smoke detectors can only dream about.

Your ordinary smoke alarms in Sandy Springs may be inadequate

Protecting your home from fire is a crucial consideration, and smoke detectors perform a vital part in shielding your family. However, smoke detectors have their drawbacks. To illustrate, they can only react to smoke, not extreme temperatures. When there is a fire in your residence, you might not be warned before the smoke rises to the smoke detector. While there are further unmistakable signs of fire -- including a sudden heat increase -- if there’s a lack of smoke, there is no triggered smoke detector.

Additionally, smoke detectors only beep if they detect ample smoke. In the event a fire begins slowly, you may not be warned until the situation is out of hand. Various smoke detectors employ dual-sensor technology, which means they will detect smoke from both a raging fire and a more gradual burn. Whenever they start beeping, it's up to the occupant to notify first responders after safely leaving the premises.

Monitored fire alarms provide more value than standard smoke detectors

While they look about the same as traditional smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms can do much more. When connected to a total home security installation, they will:

  • Identify fire with dual-sensor smoke detection: Similar to an ordinary smoke detector, your monitored component has the ability to activate from a roaring blaze or smoldering embers. It will resonate a high-volume alarm when it senses danger.
  • Detect fire from a sudden rise in heat: A monitored fire alarm may also go off if it senses an unusual fluctuation in temperature. Many times, heat is noticed in advance of smoke. More ways to identify a fire means additional ways to keep your family safe.
  • Warns your dedicated monitoring representatives: Fires will occur whether you are at your house or not. No matter of the situation, your fire alarms will notify your monitoring agents, who are able to rapidly call the fire department. When every moment matters, it's comforting to know that somebody is consistently watching over your house.
  • Integrates with home automation: Although the main purpose of a fire alarm is to detect fire and call for assistance, it may also integrate with other automated equipment. To illustrate, a tripped alarm can induce your system to start the exhaust fan to slow the fire or initiate lighting so you can find the safest path out of the property.

Your monitored fire alarms are an important aspect of a comprehensive smart home

The simplest way to optimize your fire alarms is to pair them with a Vivint home security system. Contact a Vivint expert today and discover the perfect smart home for your requirements. Place a call to (470) 466-8688 or submit the form on this page to begin.