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Are there differences between standard smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Olympia?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Olympia smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm discussion, one device rises over the rest. Smoke detectors are a vital consideration in guarding your place from fire, but they have some notable drawbacks. Conversely, monitored fire alarms have more means to detect an emergency and can contact a monitoring team in the event of a disaster. Pairing your fire alarms to a security system also results in extra benefits that your regular smoke detectors can only dream about.

Your regular smoke alarms in Olympia could be falling short

Protecting your home from fire is a crucial consideration, and smoke detectors take on a critical role in safeguarding your family. Despite that fact, smoke detectors have their limitations. For instance, they will only identify smoke, not heat. When there is an emergency in your home, you might not be warned before the smoke reaches the smoke detector. Although there are some other significant signs of fire -- including a marked heat increase -- if you don’t have smoke, you will fail to get a warning from your smoke detector.

In addition, smoke detectors only activate if they encounter enough smoke. When a fire creeps along slowly at first, you may not be cautioned until the flames are out of control. Various smoke detectors employ dual-sensor technology, which means they will detect smoke from both roaring flames and something less intense. If they start beeping, it's up to the homeowner to call emergency services after safely leaving the residence.

Monitored fire alarms do much more than regular smoke detectors

While they look about the same as standard smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms can do much more. When integrated to a complete home security package, they are able to:

  • Discern fire with dual-sensor smoke detection: Like an ordinary smoke detector, your monitored alarm has the ability to engage from a roaring blaze or smoldering embers. It will sound a high-decibel alarm if it recognizes a potential disaster.
  • Detect fire with a abrupt temperature increase: A monitored fire alarm will also activate if it notices an abnormal increase in heat. Frequently, heat comes before smoke. Added methods to detect a fire means more means to keep your family safe.
  • Warns trained monitoring specialists: Fires can occur when you are at your house or not. No matter of the situation, your fire alarms will warn your monitoring specialists, who can quickly place a call to the fire department. When every moment matters, it's nice to have the knowledge that a trained professional is consistently watching over your home.
  • Pairs with home automation: Even though the chief purpose of a fire alarm is to recognize fire and request help, it will also connect to other automated components. To illustrate, a triggered alarm could make your system engage the exhaust fan to slow the spread of fire or trigger the lights so you are able to see the best exit out of the property.

Your monitored fire alarms are part of a fully equipped smart home

The simplest approach to get the most from your fire alarms is to pair them with a Vivint home security system. Speak with a Vivint expert today and discover the perfect smart home for your needs. Call (360) 996-1195 or submit the form below to begin.