Smoke Detectors
Even the smallest of house fires can fill your New York home with dangerous
smoke in a few minutes. It is important that you choose the right smoke
detectors for your home, install them correctly, and test them at regular
intervals. There are two types of residential smoke detectors available:
photoelectric and ionization. With a photoelectric detector, light is beamed
into a chamber that contains a photocell.
Smoke entering the chamber will scatter the light, enabling some of it to reach
the photocell and cause an alarm. Smoldering fires tend to set off photoelectric
detectors faster than flaming fires. Ionization detectors use radiation that
ionizes (breaks up) the air inside the unit, and gives it a small electrical
charge. Smoke particles reduce this flow of current, and set the device into
alarm.
Which type of detector works best? Each type has its advantages and
disadvantages. Photoelectric models usually run on house current, which means
they will not function during a power outage. Ionization models run on house
current with a battery back up, but tend to be more susceptible to false alarms.
It would be a good idea to use both – an ionization detector in your bedroom
hallway, and photoelectric in your main living area. A general rule is to have a
minimum of one smoke detector for every level of your home.
At The Bailey Company we can have one of our
professional electrical contractors select and install all of your home
smoke detectors.
If you are looking for Chemung County electrician please all us today at 607-733-2032 or complete our service request form. | 
