Smoke Detectors: Reviews

In reviews, experts consistently point to the First Alert Dual Sensor as the best smoke detector. It runs on a replaceable 9-volt battery and features a combination ionization and photoelectric sensor that is by far the… most accurate and effective detection method available. The SA302CN has extra features that many detectors do not, such as remote-controlled alarm silence and test, Intelligent Sensing, which differentiates non-threatening conditions (i.e. kitchen smoke) from real emergencies, and an automatic daily self-check test. This model has a 10-year warranty. One downside is that some owners say you can accidentally trigger the test function with your TV's remote control, so it may take some trial and error to get the right placement.

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This unit features a 10-year non-replaceable lithium battery, which spares you from changing a battery each year (as with the First Alert SA302CN above and most other battery-powered detectors), but this smoke alarm has… only an ionization sensor, so it's less effective at detecting smoky, smoldering fires. Reviews say this is a good choice if you want a detector with a very long battery life, but since it lacks a dual sensor, it is best used with a photoelectric detector. The cost of a second detector can eat up the savings from not having to replace the batteries in this unit.

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This photoelectric smoke detector is better at detecting smoky or smoldering fires than the ionization unit above. Since photoelectric technology is not good at detecting fast burning fires, it should be used in… combination with an ionization detector. This unit also requires yearly battery replacement but, like other First Alert detectors, it has a limited 10-year warranty.

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While this no-frills ionization model is good at detecting high-flame fires, it is less adept at sensing smoky fires, such as those caused by smoldering bedding. That's why ionization smoke detectors are not the best… choice for bedrooms. Experts prefer models such as the First Alert Dual Sensor, which has both an ionization detector and a photoelectric sensor for detecting slow, smoldering blazes.

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Studies show that children often sleep through a normal smoke detector's alarm -- or else they respond so slowly that they cannot escape the house within the critical 2-minute time window. The KidSmart is a photoelectric… detector that allows parents to record a message in their own voice. Research has proven that children are much more likely to respond quickly to a parent's voice, and the majority of kids in tests were awake and moving within seconds of the KidSmart's alarm. Since this model is photoelectric only, you'll also want to install ionization alarms.

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