The Importance of Smoke Detectors: A Guide to Safe and Effective Protection

Bernie, what was that? It looks so dangerous. Don't worry, Jack. It's all very safe. It's a controlled test. I'm testing smoke detectors. Bernie, that is so cool. That seems like a very important test for consumers. It's incredibly important. These are devices that have to work. It's not like a toaster. Your life may depend on this thing actually detecting smoke.

One couple who knows this all too well are the Berman's in California. They were really loud, and I was totally confused about what was going on. And I didn't even smell smoke initially. Tracy did smell the smoke, but it took me all the way until I saw fire to realize there was a fire. I was in shock and terrified. My girls were closer to the fire than we were. So if the smoke detector had not gone off, it would have been a very different story.

There are two different types of fires: open flame and smoky, smoldering fires. This means that there are different types of detectors. Oh, that's so interesting. Yeah. So you want to see how we test it? Yeah, I'd love to. Come in. All right. This is a special room where we test anything that detects particles in air. And it has its own ventilation system, so I don't disturb the rest of the building when I create smoke. Got it.

So I've noticed you have two smoke detectors here. What's the difference between them? Photoelectric and ionization. So the photoelectric detector uses light. Light is passed through a chamber. As smoke enters the chamber, it reduces the amount of light that goes through the chamber, and that detector will alarm when that happens. A photoelectric detector is great at detecting large particles from a smoky fire, and it's less prone to false alarms from something like burnt toast, so it's better to have that near the kitchen.

On the other hand, an ionization detector detects small particles that come off of a fast flaming fire. They're not as good at detecting smoky fires. But you don't want to mount these near your kitchen or bathroom, so that you don't get false alarms. This one detects smoky fires. And this one detects flaming fires. Oh, I see. Now, is there one detector that combines both? It's called a dual sensor detector. And that's what we recommend, because you never know what kind of fire you're going to have in your home.

So Bernie, can we do another test? Absolutely. So what we're going to do is fill up this chimney with shredded paper. I shred 10 sheets of paper. That way, I get a consistent fire so that I'm testing them under the same conditions every time. All right, all done. Now the final step before we do this test. Yeah. You have to leave. Why? It's a dangerous test. I don't want to harm any possibility of hurting you. I understand.

OK, I've got a timer going. Timing the alarm. When the fire dies, you'll see a big puff of smoke. That's it. The test is over. That took 20 seconds for that alarm to go off. And Bernie tells me that's a good response time. So, Bernie, I've seen at the store these smoke detectors that have a carbon monoxide detector. Do we need one?

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: A Must-Have for Safe Protection

Yes, we do need carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly in high concentrations. It's often produced by fossil fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, and generators. Without a working carbon monoxide detector, you may not even know it's happening until it's too late.

So, what are the benefits of having a carbon monoxide detector? First, they alert you to potential danger when you need it most. Second, they can help prevent sudden deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning. Third, they provide peace of mind for you and your family.

How do I choose the right carbon monoxide detector for my home? The first thing is to consider the size of your home. If you have a large home with multiple levels, you'll need a bigger detector that can cover more space. Second, look for detectors that are UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listed and meet the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Third, choose a detector that is easy to use and maintain.

What should I do when my carbon monoxide detector goes off? First, get everyone out of the house immediately. If you're in an enclosed space, open windows and doors to let fresh air in. Second, turn off any fuel-burning appliances until they've been checked by a professional. Third, contact your local fire department or emergency services.

How do I maintain my carbon monoxide detector? Most detectors are battery-powered, so make sure to replace the batteries every year. Some detectors are electrically powered with battery backup, so check the manual for maintenance instructions. Also, keep in mind that detectors have expiration dates, usually listed on the packaging, after which they should be replaced.

Putting Smoke Detectors in Your Home: A Guide to Safe and Effective Protection

So, where should I put a smoke detector in my home? You need more than one smoke detector. In fact, it's recommended to have at least one detector on every level of your home, including a finished attic, if you have that. Additionally, install detectors in each bedroom, in the hallways outside bedrooms, and near any sleeping areas.

Your detectors have to work, so that means they have to be maintained too. A lot of them are battery-powered, some are electrically powered with battery backup. So, make sure to replace batteries at least once a year, even if they're electrically powered. When you're doing that, make sure you have the new battery in. You can't just take out the old battery and say oh, I'm going to put a new one in tomorrow.

But what if a fire happens right in front of your eyes? Don't need a smoke detector, you need a fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers are designed to help you fight fires until the fire department arrives. They're not a substitute for smoke detectors, though. Smoke detectors alert you to potential danger so that you can evacuate safely.

How Do I Update My Smoke Detector?

Updating your smoke detector is important to ensure it's working properly and providing the best protection for you and your family. So, where should I put my new smoke detector? Check the manual or manufacturer's instructions for specific placement recommendations.

When do I need to update my smoke detector? Most detectors have expiration dates listed on the packaging after which they should be replaced. Some detectors may require more frequent updates depending on usage and environmental conditions.

How do I update a battery-powered smoke detector? Replace batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions, usually every 6 months or as specified in the manual. Don't mix old and new batteries together; ensure that you have fresh batteries installed at all times.

What about electrically powered smoke detectors with backup batteries? When should these be updated? Typically, they require periodic testing and replacement of backup batteries, but the manufacturer's instructions will provide guidance on this process.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enHis name is Bernie--which is fitting, becausehe starts fires for someof the tests he conducts.Bernie, what was that?It looks so dangerous.Don't worry, Jack.It's all very safe.It's a controlled test.I'm testing smoke detectors.Bernie, that is so cool.That seems like a veryimportant test for consumers.It's incredibly important.These are devicesthat have to work.It's not like a toaster.Your life may depend on thisthing actually detecting smoke.One couple who knowsthis all too wellare the Berman's in California.It was really loud, andI was totally confusedto what was going on.And I didn't evensmell smoke initially.Tracy did smell the smoke,but it took me all the wayuntil I saw fire torealize there was a fire.I was in shock and terrified.I mean, my girls were closerto the fire than we were.So if the smoke detectorhad not gone off,it would have been avery different story.Did you know that there'stwo different types of fire?No, I thoughtthere was only one.No, there's the open flameand smoky, smoldering fires.So there's differenttypes of detectors.Oh, that's so interesting.Yeah.So you want to seehow we test it?Yeah, I'd love to.Come in.All right.This is a special roomwhere we test anythingthat detects particles in air.And it has its ownventilation systemso that I don't disturbthe rest of the buildingwhen I create smoke.Got it.So I've noticed you havetwo smoke detectors here.What's the differencebetween them?Photoelectric and ionization.So the photoelectricdetector uses light.Light is passedthrough a chamber.As smoke enters the chamber,it reduces the amount of lightthat goes through thechamber, and that detectorwill alarm when that happens.A photoelectric detectoris great at detectingthe large particlesfrom a smoky fire,and it's less proneto false alarmsfrom something like burnttoast, so it's betterto have that near the kitchen.An ionization detectordetects the small particlesthat come off of afast flaming fire.They're not as goodat a smoky fire.But you don't want to mountthese near your kitchenor bathroom, so that youdon't get false alarms.So this detects smoky fires.This detects flaming fires.Oh, I see.Now, is there one detectorthat combines both?It's called a dualsensor detector.And that's what werecommend, because you neverknow what kind of fire you'regoing to have in your home.Bernie, can we do another test?Absolutely.So what we're going to dois fill up this chimneywith shredded paper.I shred 10 sheets of paper.That way, I geta consistent fireso that I'm testing them underthe same conditions every time.All right, all done.Now the final stepbefore we do this test.Yeah.You got to leave.Why?It's a dangerous test.I don't want to harm anypossibility of hurting you.I understand.OK, I've got a timer going.Timing the alarm.When the fire dies, you'llsee a big puff of smoke.That's it.The test is over.That took 20 seconds forthat alarm to go off.And Bernie tells me that'sa good response time.So Bernie, I'veseen at the storesthese smoke detectors thathave a carbon monoxide feature.Should I buy that?If you have any sort of fuelburning appliance like a gasstove or an oilfurnace or a fireplace,or an attached garage whereyour car might be running,it's a good idea to have acarbon monoxide detector,because you can't smell it.And you fall asleepand never wake up.There are detectors that willdetect carbon monoxide, fire,and smoke, allthree-in-one unit,but we haven't tested any thatdo a good job at all three.So our recommendation is gettwo separate detectors, onefor carbon monoxideand one, a dual sensorthat detects fire and smoke.Bernie, I've been learninga lot about smart homesas of late, with smartdoorbells and security systems.Is there a good smart smokeand carbon monoxide detector?Of course.There are plenty of options.You can find some that willconnect with your home securitysystem if you have aninstalled security system.You can have them wherethey connect through Wi-Fito the internet and see thestatus on an app on your phone.That's cool.And there are alsosmart listenersthat will detect the soundthat your existing smokealarms will make when theygo off that will notify you.Are there any privacyconcerns when itcomes to smart smoke detectors?As with any smartinternet-connected device,you definitely want tohandle a strong password.You want to update whateverapp you're using with it,and you want to update thedevice's firmware, as well.OK, so where should I put asmoke detector in my own home?Well, you need morethan a smoke detector.My home has 10 differentsmoke detectors.10.That's right.You need to have a smokedetector in every bedroom,in the hallwayoutside the bedroom,on every level of yourhome, including a finishedattic, if you have that,in the living room,in the utility room,in your basement,and near an attached garage.Your detectors haveto work, so that meansyou have to maintain them, too.How do I do that?A lot of them arebattery powered.Some are electricallypowered with battery backup.So you have to makesure that the batteriesare replaced atleast once a year,even if they'reelectrically powered.And when you'redoing that, you haveto make sure that youhave the new battery in.You can't just takeout the old batteryand say oh, I'm going toput a new one in tomorrow.Because it could bethat night that youneed an alarm to go off.But what if a fire happensright in front of your eyes?You don't need a smoke detector,you need a fire extinguisher.\n"