Kidde 10Y29 RB Ten Year Life Sealed Battery Smoke Alarm , White

Product Information

As of February 2022, the Nest protect smoke and CO alarm no longer meet the requirements of the new Scottish alarm laws. This is because, while it can be linked to other Nest alarms, it has no way of detecting heat rises or of being linked to another heat alarm. The First Alert PRC710 performed well during my testing on all three days and consistently activated its smoke alarm after two sprays from my aerosol canister. Installation was a breeze as well; it took just a couple of minutes to insert the anchors and screws and twist into place. For this guide, I tested dozens of smoke detectors after consulting with fire and building experts and doing online research. I relied on my extensive experience as a residential carpenter, which frequently required the relocation of hardwired units. I've also installed plenty of hardwired and battery-powered smoke detectors in my own apartments and my parents' home. First-hand testing

Each unit was interconnected right out of the box, so there was no additional setup necessary. You can add up to 24 units to the network, but every new set will need to be manually connected to the rest. This process seems pretty straightforward though, and X-Sense's instructions are clear.The X-Sense SC01 responded well in my testing and activated its alarm within two sprays of the aerosol. It had a loud alarm that was clearly heard from across the 2,700-square-foot house I tested it in, and its red LED flashed continuously while the alarm was sounding. The alarm and light shut off simultaneously when the sensor no longer detected any aerosol. All of the major manufacturers (Aico, FireAngel and Kidde) make smoke and heat alarms that will work in combination with one another and we have tested pairs of smoke and heat alarms from each of them. The Nest Protect is a hardwired unit, so installation was a bit more elaborate than the other smoke detectors I tested. This will involve working with and reconnecting electrical wiring, so if you're uncomfortable around that type of thing, you may want to hire a professional. It took me about 15 minutes to remove the previous unit and connect this one. The instructions walked me through every step of the process, and the included hardware was effective and easy to use. It also took me about 15 minutes to connect the Nest Protect to my home's Wi-Fi network due to connection issues.

Batteries used to be the weakness of most household smoke alarms, requiring replacement every year or so and usually running out of charge, causing the low battery alarm to ring, in the middle of the night. As with carbon monoxide alarms, the trend is now towards alarms with a built-in, 10-year lithium battery, designed to work for the alarm’s effective lifespan. In Scotland, these are now a legal requirement. In England and Wales, however, you can still buy and use alarms with a replaceable 9V battery, and these often work out cheaper. We’d recommend paying extra for the convenience and peace of mind, but the choice is yours. Is there anything else worth looking out for? The XS03-WX Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm uses a photoelectric sensor that works with the airflow design of the casing to better detect a variety of fire types. To minimize nuisance alerts, the sensor also analyzes smoke three times before activating the alarm. Your smoke detector should have a "test" button. When you press and hold this button for a few seconds, a high-pitched siren should start to sound. If you don't hear anything or the sound seems quiet, it's time to replace the battery or smoke detector. Many insurance companies advise replacing smoke detector batteries every six months regardless of the siren's loudness.Pros: Good for bedrooms, landings and hallways, and near to kitchens as they aren’t as prone to false alarms from cooking. Heat (thermal) alarms detect heat (hot air) instead of smoke. The alarm is triggered when the temperature within the sensor chamber reaches over 58 degrees Celsius – generally when a fire is well established.

Wireless devices communicate with each other and other devices without the use of connecting wires. This can be through interlinking by radio or through wi-fi. You can put them in kitchens and garages because they’re not prone to false alarms from cooking or exhaust fumes. But they are slower to respond than smoke alarms. Ionisation alarms ionise the air between two electrodes. These are positively and negatively charged, creating a small current inside the chamber. The best smoke detectors let you sleep easily at night knowing your home is being protected from fire and carbon monoxide by a reliable, audible alarm. As a residential carpenter, I've installed plenty of hardwired and battery-powered smoke detectors over the years. For this guide, I interviewed three fire safety experts and tested dozens of smoke detectors for sensitivity, audibility, and ease of installation, using an aerosol spray to mimic real smoke.

Our top picks for the best smoke detectors

On a lighter note, Google’s data also revealed that the day when smoke alarms are most likely to sound in the UK is pancake day. Is the Nest Protect smoke and CO alarm suitable for homes in Scotland now that the law has changed? Multifunctionality: If possible, try to choose a smoke detector that includes more than one function, like a combination smoke and carbon monoxide model. The best smoke detectors generally have both ionization and photosensitive sensors for greater effectiveness. Smoke particles change the balance of the current. When this happens a signal is sent to the integrated circuit and the alarm sounds.

In Scotland, since February 2022, interlinked smoke and heat alarms have needed to be fitted in all homes. Their distinguishing feature is the fact that they can be linked to other alarms, both heat and smoke alarms, so that when one senses danger they all sound. Interlinking when one alarm goes off, all the connected detectors are activated. This can be particularly useful in a larger house. If you buy a battery-powered smoke alarm (rather than a mains-powered one), you'll need to decide whether you want one with a replaceable 9V battery, or sealed fixed-life battery The ability to connect up to 24 Kidde devices using neither WiFi nor hard-wired electricity makes this battery-powered device dependable, especially if you have issues with your electricity or internet service provider.

Stay safe and get an early warning of a fire with the smartest, most effective smoke detectors for every budget

Smoke detectors can work effectively for up to 10 years, but you still need to test them every month to make sure they function as they should. If you have a battery-powered unit, you'll want to replace the batteries every six months. That said, if your smoke detector has an integrated carbon monoxide detector, you'll need to replace the unit every five to seven years, according to the manufacturer's directions. The First Alert SA320 features both photosensitive and ionization sensors, which is likely the reason why it was the only unit that activated its alarm after a single aerosol spray test. con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not sufficient at detecting smoldering fires (doesn't include photoelectric sensor)