Vivint Authorized Retailer Lake Havasu
Smart Security Specialists -- Your Vivint Authorized Dealer Covering Lake Havasu City, Kingman, & Western Arizona

What's the difference between traditional smoke detectors vs. monitored fire alarms in Lake Havasu?

August 08, 2022
smoke alarm detector on the ceiling

In the Lake Havasu smoke detector vs. monitored fire alarm argument, one alarm rises above the other. Smoke detectors are an essential first step in guarding your place from fire, but they have some notable shortcomings. Conversely, monitored fire alarms provide more methods to detect a fire and are able to reach out to your support team when disaster strikes. Pairing your fire alarms to a security system also results in other advantages that your common smoke detectors can only wish for.

Your traditional smoke alarms in Lake Havasu may be inadequate

Fire safety is a chief concern for homeowners, and smoke detectors take on an essential role in safeguarding your family. Despite that fact, smoke detectors have their shortcomings. For instance, they can only identify smoke, not heat. In the event there is an emergency in your home, you might not be alerted until the smoke rises to the smoke detector. While there are some other telltale signs of fire -- including a sharp rise in heat -- if there’s a lack of smoke, you won’t have a triggered smoke detector.

In addition, smoke detectors only activate if they find enough smoke. If a fire creeps along slowly at first, you might not be cautioned until the situation is out of hand. Many smoke detectors employ dual-sensor technology, meaning they will recognize smoke from both roaring flames and a more gradual burn. If they do go off, it’s required of the homeowner to call emergency services after they safely leave the residence.

Monitored fire alarms provide more value than regular smoke detectors

While they look about the same as standard smoke detectors, monitored fire alarms offer more benefits. When connected to a comprehensive home security package, they will:

  • Discern fire with multi-sensor technology: Like a traditional smoke detector, your monitored alarm has the ability to activate from an intense fire or one that has just started smoking. It will emit a high-volume beeping when it recognizes a hazardous situation.
  • Identify fire with a sudden heat surge: Your monitored fire alarm may also activate if it notices an unusual fluctuation in temperature. Frequently, heat arrives before smoke. Added ways to detect a fire equates to more means to protect your loved ones.
  • Notifies professional monitoring representatives: Fires will happen whether you are at your house or not. Either way, your fire alarms will alert your monitoring team, who can swiftly call emergency services. When every moment matters, it's comforting to have the knowledge that a trained professional is consistently keeping a watch of your house.
  • Integrates with home automation: Even though the primary purpose of a fire alarm is to identify dangerous situations and notify monitoring agents, it can also connect to other automated equipment. To illustrate, a triggered alarm could make your system turn on the exhaust fan to impede the fire or trigger smart light bulbs so you may find the quickest exit out of the property.

Your monitored fire alarms are part of a complete smart home

The easiest approach to get the most from your fire alarms is to pair them with a Vivint home security system. Speak with a Vivint expert today and find the most suitable smart home for your requirements. Place a call to (928) 877-2148 or submit the form on this page to get started.