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Is there a difference between standard smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Pensacola?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Pensacola smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm debate, there’s easily only one winner. Smoke detectors are a vital line of defense in guarding your house from fire, but they have several shortcomings. Alternatively, monitored fire alarms provide more ways to discover a fire and are able to reach out to a monitoring team in the event of a disaster. Pairing your fire alarms to a security system also results in other benefits that your ordinary smoke detectors can only wish for.

The shortcomings of traditional smoke alarms in [[targetlocaion]]

Defending against fire is a chief concern for homeowners, and smoke detectors play an essential part in safeguarding your family. Even so, smoke detectors have some limitations. For instance, they are only able to react to smoke, not heat. In the event there is an emergency in your residence, you would not be cautioned until the smoke rises to the smoke detector. Although there are additional unmistakable signals of fire -- including a sudden increase in warmth -- if there's no smoke, you will fail to get a warning from your smoke detector.

In addition, smoke detectors only activate when they detect enough smoke. If a fire starts small, you might not be alerted until it's too late. Various smoke detectors utilize more than one sensor, meaning they will detect smoke from both roaring flames and something less intense. Then when they sound their alarm, it's up to the resident to contact first responders after safely leaving the premises.

Monitored fire alarms do much more than regular smoke detectors

Even though they have a similar appearance to standard smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms have added advantages. When integrated to a complete home security package, they can:

  • Discern fire with multi-sensor technology: Comparable to an ordinary smoke detector, this monitored component has the ability to activate from a roaring blaze or smoldering embers. It will resonate an easily audible alarm when it perceives a hazardous situation.
  • Identify fire from a abrupt temperature increase: A monitored fire alarm can also go off if it notices an abnormal fluctuation in temperature. Frequently, heat arrives prior to smoke. Added means to uncover a fire leads to more ways to keep your family safe.
  • Alerts your dedicated monitoring agents: Fires will occur whether you are at your house or not. Either way, your fire alarms will notify your monitoring specialists, who will swiftly contact emergency services. When seconds count, it's great to realize that someone is constantly looking out for your residence.
  • Connects to home automation: Even though the main task of a fire alarm is to identify an emergency and request monitoring agents, it can also integrate with other automated equipment. For example, a activated alarm could make your system start the exhaust fan to slow the flames or turn on lighting so you are able to find the quickest way out of the house.

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

The best approach to optimize your fire alarms is to integrate them with a Vivint home security system. Contact a Vivint security agent today and discover the most suitable smart home for your needs. Call (850) 790-5902 or complete the form below to get started.