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(More customer reviews)Most people know that it is important to replace the batteries in smoke alarms on a regular basis. If nothing else, the shrill beeping of an underpowered unit will cause that. But, did you know that the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) recommends replacing the detectors every ten years? That is because after that amount of time the probability of failure goes up, and failure during a fire can be catastrophic. This unit will sound an alarm after approximately ten years of service to let you know when it is time to replace it, which is such a good idea I wonder why it isn't in every detector. I suspect the answer is cost, as most detectors are sold by the case to home builders who are looking for the cheapest way to meet code, rather than the best way.
So if your smoke alarms are ten years old (or older), it is time to replace them. When you look around, you'll find that most of them are fairly inexpensive, and very similar to each other. Most of them (like this one) are the ionization type, which uses a very small bit of low level radioactive material to detect the presence of smoke. This type is best for quick, fast burning fires because they tend to put out less visible smoke. The other type use a light with a sensor. When smoke blocks the light from reaching the sensor, the alarm goes off. This type is far less common, and is best for slow, smoldering fires. The light sensors need regular vacuuming, as dust build up on the sensor can cause false alarms. By mixing the two types in a home, or by using units that have dual sensors, you'll be covered for all kinds of fires. Also, both of them will go off regardless of the fire type. The difference is in how quickly they will react to the smoke.
Finally, it is a good idea to buy one that has a hush feature. This is a mechanism that will turn off the alarm for a limited duration (say ten minutes) and then re-arm the detector. This prevents someone from disabling the alarm to silence a false alarm, and then forgetting to re-enable it. This detector has that feature, and it is easy enough to use (though does require a broom handle or similarly long item to reach it).
This smoke alarm has a sleek, low-profile design that looks good. It resembles a tiny version of a high-end bathroom fan (the kind without visible vents). It is very low-profile, and is only about five inches on a side, and a half-inch deep. The square shape fits in better with the rest of the home than a conventional round disc, while still retaining compatibility with the round electrical boxes used for smoke alarms in many homes. It comes with a pre-stripped wiring harness and a plastic ring that it locks to. Installation is easy if you are replacing an existing detector because the box and wiring will be there, and all you have to do is remove the old one, attach the wires together with wire nuts, attach the ring to the ceiling with the included screws, and lock the detector onto the ring. It is a fifteen minute job, and isn't hard. Just make sure the power is off before starting, as there are AC voltages running through the lines.
One of the best features of this detector is that it has a built-in rechargeable battery that will last ten years, the life of the detector. This saves countless trips up the ladder to replace old batteries, and makes It much more likely that the battery will work when it is needed. So, after installing this detector, you can ignore it for ten years other than an occasional cleaning. After the ten years are up, it will alert you to let you know it is time to replace it.
Recommended.
Sean P. Logue, 2008
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No need to worry about faulty batteries with the Kidde KN-SMFM-i Silhouette Low-Profile Smoke Alarm. This no-fuss alarm contains a rechargeable battery that runs off central electricity and lasts the lifetime of the unit. Dependable and easy to install, this no-maintenance alarm saves on labor and material costs over its lifetime. And because this alarm is interconnect-able, builders and do-it-yourself homeowners will quickly discover this is a must-have for remodels and new construction.
This alarm uses ionization sensing technology. Ionization sensing alarms may detect invisible fire particles (associated with flaming fires) sooner that photoelectric alarms. Photoelectric sensing alarms may detect visible particles (associated with smoldering fires) sooner than ionization alarms. Kidde strongly recommends that both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms be installed to help insure maximum detection of the various types of fire that can occur within the home.
Rechargeable Batteries Save Money, Time, and LaborThe Kidde Silhouette Low-Profile Smoke Alarm features a rechargeable lithium battery sealed inside the unit that recharges automatically via central electricity. If there is a power outage, the battery will recharge once the electricity is restored. Over the span of the alarm's life, this no-fuss unit saves homeowners money, time, and labor on battery changes. For builders, landlords, hoteliers, and apartment managers, this innovative feature cuts down on callbacks, material, and labor costs.
The battery is designed to last the lifetime of the alarm, approximately 10 years. Once the alarm has reached the end of its life, it will chirp every 30 seconds, letting you know it's time for a replacement.
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