Smoke Alarm: Installation and Maintenance Tips for your Cedar Rapids and Waterloo Property

Smoke Alarm: Installation and Maintenance Tips for your Cedar Rapids and Waterloo Property

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Did you know that eight people in a week die due to fire? From these, 70% to 80% is due to residential fires. However, these fatalities and even property loss can be avoided with proper smoke alarm maintenance in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

As an owner of residential or commercial property in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, it is a vital part of your responsibility to maintain a working smoke alarm system for these properties. Learn more about smoke alarm systems in this article. 

Types of Smoke Alarm

There are two types of smoke alarms:

Ionization Smoke Alarms for Cedar Rapids and Waterloo

This type of smoke alarm can detect fire particles connected with fast flaming fires faster than photoelectric smoke alarms.

Ionization Smoke Alarm is one of the most common types of alarm that is quick in sensing flames and fast-moving fires. It uses a tiny amount of radioactive material to make the air ionized in an internal sensing chamber. The air in that chamber becomes conductive allowing current to flow between two charged electrodes. When fire smoke particles enter the chamber, the conductivity of the chamber air will diminish. The alarm will shut off when the conductivity is reduced to a certain level. 

Photoelectric Smoke Alarms for Cedar Rapids and Waterloo

This type of smoke alarm can detect fire particles connected with slow smoldering fires sooner than an ionization smoke alarm.

Photoelectric Smoke Alarm is an uncommon type of alarm. It is quick at sensing smoldering fires than an ionization smoke alarm. This kind of smoke alarm consists of a light-emitting diode and a light-sensitive sensor positioned in a sensing chamber. Once smoke particles are sensed in the chamber light beams are scattered. The scattered light, once detected by the light sensitivity sensor will set off the alarm.

Smoke Alarm Maintenance in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo

Smoke alarms must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s requirement. You need to test your smoke alarms regularly to ensure it is working properly and serving its purpose. Frequent checking can be completed by pressing the alarm’s test button or by using an incense stick to trigger the alarm. By doing this so, you can check if the alarm’s batteries are working properly.

If batteries need replacement, a warning beep will notify you. It is advised to replace these batteries if the alarm system sends an alert.

Usually, a smoke alarm’s life expectancy last up to 87,000 hours or for about 10 years. But, once the smoke alarm reaches its life expectancy, it might fail to alert you when you need it. So be sure to take note of the date when you started to use your alarms in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

Take note: Typical carbon monoxide alarms must be replaced every five years. Take into consideration the cleaning time of your smoke alarms.

You should clean it at least every six months or as recommended by the manufacturer. You can use a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt gently. Make sure that your alarms are switched off when cleaning.

Installing fire alarms correctly and make sure that they are working properly are small steps you can do to protect your property from fire. Always give it the correct and proper maintenance to ensure it is doing its job.

If you need assistance to secure your property, contact Hawkeye Communication for the most reliable smoke alarms and smoke detectors in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo.

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