What's the difference between regular smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Charlottesville?

In the Charlottesville smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm debate, there’s only one winner. Smoke detectors are an important consideration in guarding your residence from a dangerous blaze, but they have a few concerning drawbacks. Conversely, monitored fire alarms have more means to discover a fire and may reach out to a monitoring team when disaster strikes. Linking your fire alarms to a security system also brings out various other perks that your common smoke detectors would only wish for.

The limitations of ordinary smoke alarms in [[targetlocaion]]

Defending against fire is a crucial consideration, and smoke detectors take on a vital part in keeping your family safe. However, smoke detectors have their limitations. To illustrate, they are only able to identify smoke, not high temps. In the event there is an emergency in your residence, you might not be alerted before the smoke reaches the smoke detector. Although there are further telltale signals of fire -- such as a sudden heat increase -- if there’s a lack of smoke, you will fail to get a sounding of your smoke detector.

Additionally, smoke detectors only activate when they encounter enough smoke. If a fire begins slowly, you may not be warned until the situation is out of hand. Various smoke detectors employ more than one sensor, which means they will be able to perceive smoke from both a raging fire and smoldering remnants. If they do go off, it's up to the resident to contact the fire department after they safely leave the property.

Monitored fire alarms offer more benefits than regular smoke detectors

While they have a similar appearance to traditional smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms can do much more. When linked to a comprehensive home security installation, they can:

• Discern fire with different sensor types: Comparable to a standard smoke detector, the monitored component will trigger from an intense fire or one that has just started smoking. It will emit a high-volume alarm if it recognizes a hazardous situation.

• Identify fire due to a rapid temperature increase: A monitored fire alarm will also activate if it notices an uncommon heat surge. Typically, heat comes before smoke. More ways to uncover a fire means more methods to safeguard your family.

• Alerts trained monitoring specialists: Fires can occur whether you are on site or somewhere else. No matter of the situation, your fire alarms will notify your monitoring specialists, who can swiftly call the fire department. When every tick of the clock is critical, it's great to have the knowledge that somebody is consistently keeping a watch of your house.

• Connects to home automation: Even though the main job of a fire alarm is to detect an emergency and request monitoring agents, it can also connect to other automated devices. For example, a tripped alarm might make your system start the exhaust fan to impede the spread of fire or turn on lighting so you can see the quickest way out of the house.

Your monitored fire alarms are part of a comprehensive smart home

The easiest way to get the most from your fire alarms is to connect them with a Vivint home security system. Consult with a Vivint expert today and find the most suitable smart home for your needs. Call (434) 404-5302 or send in the form on this page to take the first step toward a safer property.