The pros and cons of a mains domestic smoke alarm detector

Thanks to figures which have shown deaths from house and building fires falling exponentially since the advent and popularity of domestic smoke detectors, they have not only become more popular but they are now a legal requirement in rental and commercial properties.

As a result, the decision as to whether to invest in a mains smoke detector or a wireless smoke detector is an important consideration which many people find themselves making.

In order to properly consider the decision, it is necessary to determine the advantages and disadvantages of both mains and new wireless smoke detectors for it is only once these have been considered that a proper and sensible decision may be made.

The pros

Whilst numerous advertising campaigns have highlighted the importance of checking smoke alarm batteries regularly, with a mains system there is no need. Because the system is hard wired into the home or property in question, it simply feeds and powers itself based on the electric supply of the building. This means no regular checking of batteries, and no worrying that they may run out in between checks.

In addition, in many cases a mains system contains a number of detectors. This not only makes them more suitable for a building with a larger surface area such as a shop or an office floor where the larger number of sensors can quickly pick up a problem which a central sensor might miss or experience a delay in locating, but in addition, because each of these sensors will be linked to each other by radio, when one is activated the others will follow suit.

A further consideration is the reliability of the system. Tests and research has shown that mains smoke alarms tend to be more reliable and faster at detecting a problem than their wireless counterparts.

Finally, and most importantly for many people is the professional installation which comes with many mains smoke detectors. Professional installation means less chance of anything going wrong with the alarm but also means that the home or business owner has a guarantee for the work that was completed and a warranty for servicing should anything go wrong.

The cons

From the final point of the advantages of mains smoke alarms also comes a disadvantage. Having a professional installation means that if anything were to go wrong with the alarm then there would also be a need for a professional. Of course, if the system in question were under a warranty or guarantee then there is no cost for this but there is the potential for a wait for said professional – especially on evenings, weekends and public holidays. In addition, if the standard domestic smoke detectors were out of warranty it could cost the homeowner a considerable amount for a professional repair.

Finally, there is the issue of powering the alarm. Whilst a benefit of a mains system is a lack of batteries to check or maintain, the fact that the alarm is powered by mains electricity means that if that electricity fails then so will the alarm. It also means that in the event of a small malfunction (such as a power cut which lasts seconds) the alarm could also malfunction.

If your home does not have a smoke alarm but you are unsure of which option is best for your home, visit the Alarm Traders direct website.