A home fire happens every 85 seconds in the U.S. and nearly two-thirds of home fire fatalities are caused by the lack of a properly functioning alarm. Everyone knows that smoke alarms play a big factor in keeping you and your home safe, but that doesn’t stop the average homeowner from pulling out the batteries when that irritating chirping sound travels throughout the house during a non-emergency.
The good news is that long-life lithium batteries in smoke alarms are changing the game. Homeowners can now buy smoke alarms that last the life of their respective batteries— 10 years. This new alarm from Kidde not only saves you the hassle of climbing a ladder and replacing your batteries, but also saves you approximately $40 in batteries over the life of the alarm. “We were the first to create a full line of UL-listed, 10-year sealed battery smoke, CO and combination alarms. It was developed to address the issue of batteries being removed from smoke alarms, and the risk that’s then created,” explains Heather Caldwell, marketing and communications manager for Kidde.
Homeowners can place these “worry-free” alarms in each room of the house (and outside each bedroom) and leave it alone for a decade, but, taking it a step further, new alarms are also customized to the needs of each area of the home. For example, dark hallways can hinder the safety of an evacuation route, so hallway-specific alarms are equipped with a bright shining LED light to guide your way once activated. There are also kitchen, bedroom and living area-specific alarms (see our graphic below to learn more).
Additional smart technology, available in Kidde’s RemoteLync Device and Nest’s Protect Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm, sends alerts to your smartphone in real-time to notify you in the case of an emergency. “Homeowners can monitor situations like fire safety on their own, now, without having to rely on contracting an outside security company and paying those monthly service fees,” says Heather. These devices can supervise the home 24/7, providing you with peace of mind even when you’re away.
Make sure you’re prepared with a fire escape plan and properly functioning smoke alarm in every part of the home.
