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What's the difference between standard smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Palm Springs?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Palm Springs smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm discussion, there’s easily only one winner. Smoke detectors are an important first step in shielding your house from fire, but they have some notable drawbacks. Conversely, monitored fire alarms have more ways to discover an emergency and can notify help when the unthinkable happens. Pairing your fire alarms to a security system also results in many other perks that your regular smoke detectors can only dream about.

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

Defending against fire is a chief concern for homeowners, and smoke detectors perform an essential role in keeping your family safe. However, smoke detectors have their limitations. For instance, they are only able to detect smoke, not extreme temperatures. When there is a blaze starting in your home, you would not be warned before the smoke reaches the smoke detector. Although there are some other telltale signals of fire -- such as a marked rise in heat -- if you don’t have smoke, there is no sounding of your smoke detector.

What’s more, smoke detectors only sound the alarm if they encounter an adequate amount of smoke. When a fire starts small, you might not be alerted until the situation is out of hand. Various smoke detectors employ more than one sensor, which means they will detect smoke from both roaring flames and smoldering remnants. Then when they do go off, it falls to the homeowner to contact the fire department after exiting the property.

Monitored fire alarms do much more than ordinary smoke detectors

Even though they have a similar appearance to traditional smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms have added advantages. If linked to a complete home security system, they can:

  • Identify fire with multi-sensor technology: Like an ordinary smoke detector, this monitored alarm has the ability to engage from an active or passive fire. It will sound an easily audible alarm whenever it perceives danger.
  • Identify fire with a sudden heat surge: Your monitored fire alarm may also go off if it notices an unusual increase in heat. Many times, heat is noticed prior to smoke. Added methods to identify a fire leads to extra methods to safeguard your family.
  • Warns trained monitoring specialists: Fires will happen whether you are on site or somewhere else. Either way, your fire alarms will warn your monitoring team, who are able to swiftly call first responders. When every moment matters, it's great to realize that a trained professional is always watching over your home.
  • Pairs with home automation: While the chief task of a fire alarm is to detect dangerous situations and call for assistance, it will also connect to other automated devices. For instance, a triggered alarm could make your system turn on the exhaust fan to slow the fire or initiate the lights so you are able to locate the safest way out of the property.

Your monitored fire alarms are a key element of a fully equipped smart home

The simplest method to optimize your fire alarms is to connect them with a Vivint home security system. Contact a Vivint expert today and customize the most suitable smart home for your needs. Place a call to (760) 334-5668 or complete the form below to get started.