Why Store Security Matters to Me

If you have a fire in your home, the sooner you are able to react to the threat, the more likely it is that you will be able to get your family out safely. The problem with fire is that there is more than one type of fire. Some fires will throw up a lot of flames, and other fires will smolder for a long period of time without creating a lot of heat. In a home, you have highly flammable materials and materials that will smolder. Thus, you need to make sure you have smoke detectors to help you detect each type of fire. 

Two Types of Detectors

Ionization Detectors: Without going into too much detail, ionization detectors detect smoke by passing a bit of current through a radioactive material, which creates a stream of ions. When smoke enters the detector, it disrupts the flow of ions and sets off the alarm. While this may sound impressive, this type of detector usually works best with high-flame detectors. 

Photoelectric Detectors: Photoelectric detectors pass a stream of light through a sensing chamber. When smoke enters the detector, it blocks the light source, and this sets off the alarm. It can take a lot of smoke to block the light source, so this detector usually works best with fires that create a lot of smoke. 

The Best Approach to Protecting Your Home

Since you cannot realistically predict what type of fire you might have to deal with in your home, you need to make sure you have detectors that will detect both types of fires. While doubling up on detectors might cost extra money, you can't afford not to take whatever precautions are necessary to keep your family safe. You may even be able to find one detector that has both types of detection mechanisms in one housing. These detectors will both protect your family and reduce clutter in your home. 

Fire is a deadly threat. It can destroy a home, wipe away all your possessions, and take lives. If you want to survive a fire, if you want to have time to take steps to protect your family and your belongings, you need a system in place that will detect the fire as quickly as possible. Simply installing detectors in every room in your home might not be enough. You need detectors that will detect a fire no matter what type of fire you have to contend with. For more information about fire alarm systems and which type will work best for your home, contact a home alarm or security company or fire protection service.