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Are there differences between regular smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Santa Fe?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Santa Fe smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm argument, there’s really only one champion. Smoke detectors are a vital consideration in shielding your house from emergency situations, but they have some notable limitations. On the other hand, monitored fire alarms offer more methods to discover an emergency and may reach out to your support team when disaster strikes. Pairing your fire alarms to a home security system also brings out various other benefits that your ordinary smoke detectors would only hope for.

Your regular smoke alarms in Santa Fe may be inadequate

Protecting your home from fire is a chief concern for homeowners, and smoke detectors take on a vital part in keeping your family safe. Even so, smoke detectors have some limitations. For example, they can only detect smoke, not high temps. In the event there is a fire in your house, you may not be cautioned before the smoke ascends to the smoke detector. Even though there are further significant indications of fire -- including a marked rise in heat -- if there’s a lack of smoke, you won’t have a sounding of your smoke detector.

What’s more, smoke detectors only activate when they detect an adequate amount of smoke. When a fire begins slowly, you might not be warned until the flames are out of control. Some smoke detectors utilize more than one sensor, meaning they will be able to perceive smoke from both a blazing inferno and something less intense. Whenever they sound their alarm, it’s required of the resident to notify emergency services after safely leaving the property.

Monitored fire alarms provide more value than ordinary smoke detectors

Even though they look like standard smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms can do much more. When integrated to a comprehensive home security installation, they are able to:

  • Identify fire with multi-sensor technology: Comparable to a standard smoke detector, your monitored alarm will activate from an active or passive fire. It will resonate a high-decibel alarm whenever it recognizes a potential disaster.
  • Identify fire from a abrupt heat surge: A monitored fire alarm will even activate if it notices an uncommon increase in heat. Many times, heat is noticed before smoke. Added methods to identify a fire equates to additional ways to keep your family safe.
  • Warns professional monitoring specialists: Fires will occur when you are at your house or not. No matter of the situation, your fire alarms will notify your monitoring team, who are able to rapidly contact first responders. When every tick of the clock is critical, it's great to have the knowledge that someone is constantly looking out for your house.
  • Pairs with home automation: While the primary job of a fire alarm is to identify an emergency and request assistance, it may also join forces with other automated devices. For instance, a triggered alarm might prompt your system to turn on the exhaust fan to hinder the fire or turn on smart light bulbs so you may see the safest path out of your home.

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

The simplest way to get the most from your fire alarms is to pair them with a Vivint home security system. Consult with a Vivint specialist today and customize the perfect smart home for your needs. Place a call to (505) 605-2552 or complete the form below to get started.