How to Choose & Buy a Smoke Alarm

A smoke alarm gives early warning of a fire, and is an essential appliance for keeping your home safe.

Here are some useful hints and tips to help you choose a smoke alarm from the wide range available from online retailers.

How to Choose & Buy a Smoke Alarm - Types

Here are details of the main types of smoke alarm:

Photoelectric smoke alarms: Also known as optical alarms, these are extremely good at quickly detecting smouldering fires that are quietly and gradually burning away unnoticed.
Ionisation smoke alarms: These are the cheapest type of alarm and will warn you about any type of fire, but they are especially sensitive to flaming fires.
Photoelectric/ionisation smoke alarms: A combination of the first two types that will alert you to any kind of fire quickly.
Smoke/carbon monoxide alarms: These devices not only alert you to fire but also detect carbon monoxide levels.
Specialist smoke alarms: These may come with a device that vibrates, and they also emit a pulsing light so the deaf are instantly aware of a problem.

Other types include heat-activated smoke alarms that are suitable for use in a kitchen where regular alarms can't be located. There is a wide variety of smoke alarms available, and some can be purchased at very affordable prices, so it's easy to fully protect your home with these simple to install, life-saving devices.

How to Choose & Buy a Smoke Alarm - Features

When choosing a smoke alarm, it's important to be aware of the different specifications and features available, so you can choose an alarm that best suits your needs and budget.

Features to look out for when buying a smoke alarm include:

Low battery warnings: A light or tone will alert you to a low battery level.
Power: Smoke alarms are not always powered by battery. Some can run off the mains electricity supply and only use the battery if there is a power cut.
Safety lights: You can purchase a model with a bright light that will help you find your way out when the house is filled with smoke.
Testing: Smoke alarms all need to be tested regularly. With some models it's possible to test the alarm by using a torch instead of having to manually press a button. This is ideal if your smoke alarm is going to be fixed in a hard to reach place.

How to Choose & Buy a Smoke Alarm - Accessories

Smoke alarms sometimes come with accessories. Accessories to look out for when choosing a smoke alarm include:

Spare batteries: Batteries need replacing on a regular basis to keep the alarm working.

How to Choose & Buy a Smoke Alarm - Warranty & Budget

The length of the warranty offered can often differ greatly between different manufacturers and retailers, so you may wish to keep this in mind when buying.

When you're shopping online for a new smoke alarm, remember to compare prices between different retailers and look out for special offers or discounts - you may find you are able save some money or that you can buy a better model than your budget would normally allow for.