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

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the New Brunswick smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm argument, there’s really only one champion. Smoke detectors are an essential first step in guarding your house from emergency situations, but they have some notable shortcomings. Conversely, monitored fire alarms have more ways to discover an emergency and can contact your support team when disaster strikes. Pairing your fire alarms to a comprehensive smart home also brings out additional advantages that your common smoke detectors could only dream about.

Traditional smoke alarms can only do this one thing

Protecting your home from fire is a chief concern for homeowners, and smoke detectors play a vital role in shielding your family. Even so, smoke detectors have some drawbacks. For instance, they will only identify smoke, not heat. If there is a fire in your home, you might not be alerted until the smoke reaches the smoke detector. Even though there are additional telltale signs of fire -- such as a sudden heat increase -- if there’s a lack of smoke, there is no warning from your smoke detector.

Additionally, smoke detectors only sound the alarm when 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 use dual-sensor technology, meaning they will recognize smoke from both a raging fire and something less intense. Whenever they start beeping, it's up to the homeowner to notify first responders after exiting the residence.

Monitored fire alarms offer more benefits than standard smoke detectors

While they look like traditional smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms offer more benefits. If linked to a complete home security package, they are able to:

  • Detect fire with dual-sensor smoke detection: Comparable to a traditional smoke detector, your monitored component can activate from an active or passive fire. It will resonate an easily audible warning whenever it recognizes a potential disaster.
  • Identify fire from a abrupt temperature increase: Your monitored fire alarm may also trigger if it discerns an abnormal increase in heat. Frequently, heat is noticed prior to smoke. Having additional methods to identify a fire equates to additional ways to safeguard your family.
  • Notifies professional monitoring representatives: Fires will happen whether you are home or away. Regardless, your fire alarms will warn your monitoring agents, who will swiftly place a call to emergency services. When every moment matters, it's comforting to have the knowledge that someone is consistently keeping a watch of your home.
  • Pairs with home automation: Although the chief task of a fire alarm is to recognize dangerous situations and notify help, it may also connect to other automated devices. To illustrate, a triggered alarm could prompt your system to engage the exhaust fan to impede the spread of fire or initiate smart light bulbs so you are able to see the quickest way out of your home.

Your monitored fire alarms are part of a complete smart home

The easiest method to get the most from your fire alarms is to pair them with a Vivint home security system. Contact a Vivint specialist today and customize the ideal smart home for your requirements. Place a call to (732) 607-4656 or complete the form on this page to get started.