Operating A Smoke Detector

Operating a smoke detector is a fairly simple task since once it is installed, you do nothing. Smoke detectors, or alarms, are self-contained devices that alert members of the household or occupants of a building in the event of a fire or smoke. There are two types of smoke alarms that operate with different systems. One is photoelectric that emits a continuous beam of light that, if broken by the presence of smoke, will trip an audible alert or alarm. An ionization unit emits and electrical charge and measures if the charge stays constant, which it will with oxygen present. If fire eating up available oxygen, the alarm will sound.

Home Detection Systems

Home fire alarms can operate as part of a building-wide detection system that includes entry alarms and carbon monoxide alarms as well as smoke detectors. The most common home smoke alarm operations are photoelectric because these will detect smoldering, smoke emitting fires like electrical wire fires that initiate inside walls. Therefore, these are a popular choice for bedrooms and living areas of the home. Systems that operate by ionization are better suited in areas like a boiler or furnace room where a fire may get out of control. Either system can be powered by removable batteries or can be wired through the walls to an in-home power source.

Testing

The only owner-initiated operation for a smoke alarm is to periodically test each unit in the home to make sure it is working properly. Each unit will have a built-in battery test button to see if the power level is where it needs to be. Most smoke alarms that are battery powered need to be replaced once each year. A good idea is to select a date each year--like going to or coming from Daylight Savings Time--to change all the batteries in every unit in the home. Additionally, if you need to check to see if the alarm will actually work, light a candle and hold it about six inches under the detector to see if it will set the alarm off. If it does not, blow the candle out and allow the smoke to hit the detector. If it sounds now, you know it is smoke-sensitive enough to work properly. Many detector systems have sensors that are actuated toward heat sensing versus smoke sensing. A detector that is very sensitive to smoke is a good idea since smoke will rise quicker than heated air.

Wireless Operation

A popular home detection system today is a wireless operation. This system is integrated with an intercommunication between every detecting device installed throughout the home. Therefore, when one sounds it sends a signal to all other devices that will sound alarms within a second. This type of system will alert all members of a household at the same time that there is a potential danger from a fire. Non-wireless systems do not operate where all alarms sound when danger is sensed in one part of the building.

It is a great idea to use high quality batteries to operate your smoke detector system.