Usually when a smoke detector is chirping intermittently, it’s time to replace the battery. If replacing the battery in your smoke alarm does not eliminate the chirping, contact us.

Every smoke alarm has a battery backup. Most batteries need to be replaced every 6 months to a year.

Smoke alarms typically have a 10-year life span. We recommend having your smoke detectors inspected annually.

Your alarms need to be reset and cleaned. Alarms that within date (10years or newer) still have life on them. If they are older than 10years, they need to be replaced. To clean a smoke alarm you need to take it down, detach the wires, take the battery out and hold down the test button for 30seconds. Once the alarm is drained take a can of compressed air and clean them, you will see all the dust and bugs comes out. Once it is cleaned, install a brand new battery in it. and reinstall in the resverse order. Once done make sure to do this to every smoke alarm in the home and test them all once done. If one or more is not functioning then replacement is necessary.

Older homes have old wiring and are not up to today’s fire codes. Smoke Detector Pro recommends making your home up to date in today's fire standards by installing New alarms. These new alarms maybe required to be in very specific areas per fire code.

Although building codes vary from city to city, most manufacturers and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggest placing one in each bedroom. There should be one in the hallway between the kitchen and sleeping areas. If the hallway is 30 feet or longer, there should be one on each end. Stairways should have one as they act as a chimney for smoke and heat. If you aren’t sure, Smoke Detector Pro can recommend the best locations for your detectors.

Have room additions or finished basements and want to interconnect your alarm system? We can easily interconnect your upstairs already installed smoke detector system to intergrate with your basement. Finished basements need the same amount of protection if not more as the rest of the house. Here at Smoke Detector Pro we install new alarms in areas that need protection. Contact us.

Most manufacturers recommend Monthly testing. Using the test button is the most accurate way to test it. All smoke alarms will go off in the household. If one does not go off call Smoke detector medic to diagnose.

There are two type of smoke detectors: Ionization and Photo-electric:

• Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires.
  

  How they work:

  Ionization-type smoke alarms are generally more sensitive at detecting small particles, which tend to be produced in fast moving fires, commonly found in kitchen or garage fires.

• Photoelectric smoke detection is generally more responsive to smoldering fires.
  

  How they work:

  Photoelectric-type alarms are more sensitive at detecting large particles, which tend to be produced in slow moving fires, such as a couch or bedding fire.

Fire safety device installationand maintenance in a residential structure.

1) At least one smoke detection device shall be installed to protect the sleeping area within each dwelling unit. A sleeping area is defined as the area or areas of the dwelling unit in which the bedrooms (or sleeping rooms) are located. Where bedrooms or rooms ordinarily used for sleeping are separated by other-use areas (such as kitchens or living rooms but not bathrooms or closets), or are located on different stories or floor levels, they shall be considered as separate sleeping areas for the purposes of these rules.

(2) Dwelling units with more than one sleeping area shall require the installation of additional smoke detection devices to protect each sleeping area.

212-10-040 Location of smoke detection devices.

(1) Smoke detection devices shall be installed outside of bedrooms or rooms used for sleeping purposes but in the immediate vicinity of such rooms, centrally located in the corridor or area giving access to the rooms. In dwelling units without separate sleeping rooms, the smoke detection devices shall be centrally located in the main room. Smoke detection devices shall be located on or near the ceiling. NOTE: Smoke detection devices should be installed in those locations recommended by the manufacturer except in those cases where the space above the ceiling is open to the outside and little or no insulation is present over the ceiling. Such cases result in the ceiling being excessively cold in the winter time or excessively hot in the summer time. Where the ceiling is significantly different in temperature from the air space below, smoke has difficulty reaching the ceiling and to a detector which may be placed there. In this situation, placement of the detector on a side wall, with the top four inches to twelve inches from the ceiling is preferred. In dwelling units employing radiant heating in the ceiling, the wall location is the preferred location. Radiant heating in the ceiling can create a hot-air boundary layer along the ceiling surface which can seriously restrict the movement of smoke to a ceiling-mounted detector.

(2) A smoke detection device installed in a stairwell shall be so located as to assure that smoke rising in the stairwell cannot be prevented from reaching the detection device by an intervening door or obstruction.

(3) Smoke detection devices in rooms with ceiling slopes greater than one-foot rise per eight feet horizontally shall be located at the high side of the room.

(4) Smoke detection devices shall not be mounted in front of an air supply duct outlet or between the bedroom and the furnace cold air return.

212-10-050 Maintenance.

It is the responsibility of the occupant of all new or existing dwelling units, owned by other than the occupant, to maintain and test all smoke detection devices installed within the dwelling unit by the owner. Actual costs of maintenance, repair or replacement of smoke detection devices shall be as agreed beforehand by the occupant and owner. However, failure of the owner to abide by the terms of any such agreement does not relieve the occupant of the responsibility to maintain the smoke detection devices in a fully operational condition at all times.

UL has released new safety standards and performance requirements for smoke alarms with their UL 217 8th Edition Update. This update to the UL standard will go into effect July 1st, 2024 for all manufacturers of smoke alarms and combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The reason why this new standard was created was because fire industry experts found fire dynamics within the modern day home have changed over the last several decades. According to UL, newer synthetic materials in the home, more open layouts and lighter construction materials all burn hotter and faster. This research led the industry experts and UL to create new smoke alarm performance requirements for certain types of flammable material fire, such as polyurethane foam. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nuisance alarms (due to cooking or steam) are the leading reason for homeowners to disconnect or turn off their smoke alarms. This problem with nuisance alarms led UL to add new testing requirements around nuisance alarm prevention.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

BASIC BREAKDOWN

– All smoke alarms manufactured before July 1st, 2024 will be phased out from manufacturing companies.

– All older alarms manufactured before July 1st, 2024 are still good alarms, but they will not be produced anymore.

– These new alarms are UL217 standard meaning they are made for our current households and products.

– UL testing over the last few decades found that current alarms are causing too many nuisance alarms and are not made to respond as fast as this newest generation.

OUR TAKE –

– Nuisance alarms (911 calls, taking alarms down, having smoke alarms go off randomly) will be reduced SIGNIFICANTLY.

– Current homeowners that have older than July 1st 2024, are still 100% protected and still can install/purchase older alarms. Old technology still works great.

– The current change is due to homeowners taking down alarms and not replacing them,

– Older alarms cause more 911 calls, this change will help fire departments in false alarms.

– Current products in building materials that burn hotter and faster with the need for an alarms that can detect this faster.

– These new generation alarms are a major upgrade, but the new cost of alarms will increase as well to meet these strict requirements.

Again these are new systems and will need some time for systems to be adopted and run smoothly.

Here at Smoke Detector Pro LLC We strive to be the best and offer homeowners the best in technology and safety. We will be phasing out all older systems on new installs and be offering any all customers new upgrades in the future.

EMERGENCY FACT - 48% of all house fires start in the kitchen.

Most start from overcooking or heating oil too hot. Fires happen in the blink of an eye. It can happen to anyone!

 Keeping a PRO Fire Blanket in your kitchen is one of the most important decisions for you and your family. 

It so easy just pull the straps to release the fire blanket, cover it over the fire! 

 Every child and elderly person can easily handle use of our PRO Fire Blanket. No more messy or heavy fire extinguishers! 

 Keeping at least one in the house per person is vital. It's a one-time purchase that can save lives and thousands in damages.

Our Fire Blankets were designed in house by a firefighter.

The PRO Fire Blanket is made from 100% flame retardant material, plus no having sharp shards of fiberglass in your hands. This special design made with high temp silicone doesn't hurt while you touch it!

Hang anywhere and pull when needed. It withstands and isolates high temps up to 1,000 degrees F. When an emergency situation happens, it's ready!