How Many Smoke Detectors Do I Need to Feel Safe?
You should have smoke detectors in every room of your home—and multiple in a room if they are separated by more than 30 feet.
Written by Drew Waterstreet
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
You should have smoke detectors in every room of your home and multiple in a room if they are separated by more than 30 feet.
Smoke detectors—also known as fire alarms or smoke alarms—are there to give you and your family peace of mind. They provide the necessary alert to limit a problem from evolving into an emergency. Every second counts when it comes to detecting the source of smoke.
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How many smoke detectors do I need in my home?
Smoke detectors should be in every room of your house. You should have multiple smoke detectors in a room if they are separated by more than 30 feet, no matter the size or style of your home.
Placement is just as important as the number of smoke detectors in your home. Follow these criteria to maximize the effectiveness and reliability of your smoke alarms:
- Install on the ceiling or wall no more than 12 inches from the ceiling. Smoke rises and is most detectable near the ceiling.
- Keep at least 10 feet away from cooking appliances to prevent false alarms. This distance provides a happy medium in recognizing smoke from general cooking as opposed to a kitchen emergency.
- Don’t place too close to vents, ceiling fans, or windows to avoid any sort of interference.
- Don’t forget to put alarms in hallways, outside of bedrooms, basements, and garages.
Pro Tip If you install a smart home smoke detector, like a Google Nest, you’ll be alerted to an issue by voice, siren, and smartphone alert.
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How to maintain your smoke detectors
Buying the correct number of smoke detectors and placing them properly is only the first step to protecting your home from smoke/fire emergencies. Your safety is only as good as your commitment to routine maintenance.
Here’s what you should do to maintain your smoke detectors:
- Test all your smoke detectors once per month. You’ll never regret sacrificing five minutes of scrolling social media to check your alarms.
- Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors every six months. Even if your smoke detectors are hard-wired, it’s important to replace the backup batteries as well.
- Replace your smoke detectors every 8 to 10 years. The hardware should last this long but it’s important to remain committed to routine maintenance checks.
Smoke alarm features
There are many smoke detectors on the market with a variety of features, so the prices can vary from about $25 to $65. Here are some of the key features to look for.
Security system integration
This feature can notify the authorities immediately upon detection of smoke. If you’re a heavy sleeper and not convinced a smoke alarm would wake you up, this feature could be for you.
Interconnectivity
Interconnectivity is important for multi-level homes. This feature means that if one smoke detector goes off, they all will go off. If you live in a large multi-level home, there is potential that you won’t be able to hear the alert if you’re upstairs and the detection is occurring in the basement.
Hard-wired or battery-powered
Smoke detectors come in two options: hard-wired and battery powered. Hard-wired smoke detectors connect to your home’s central power system, meaning they are more reliable. A mixture of both is recommended because battery-powered fire alarms can be used to fill in any gaps in full home coverage or as a backup in the case of a power outage.
Silence buttons
False alarms happen, everyone burns the popcorn every once in a while. In this event, it is highly recommended to simply hit the silence button rather than taking the batteries out of the fire alarm. This feature limits the opportunity to forget to properly reassemble your detector.
Key Takeaway Not all smoke detectors are the same, and some have advanced features for greater protection
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How many carbon monoxide detectors do I need?
Carbon monoxide detectors should be located on every level of the home at a minimum, with a focus on some specific locations. These include:
Outside of sleeping areas
Kitchen & living areas
Garage
Near your gas furnace (if you have one)
Laundry room (if your dryer is gas-powered)
Unlike smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors should be installed at knee height. Carbon monoxide mixes with air, so it doesn’t rise as smoke does.
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