Experts Say This One Life-Saving Home Product Isn’t Replaced Often Enough

It’s very likely that you already have a smoke detector in your home. It’s also very likely that it’s not operating at its full potential or needs to be replaced altogether.
In a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly one in five households believed all their alarms would be working but had at least one functionality issue when tested — as shared with HuffPost by NFPA spokesperson, Susan McKelvey.
“Additionally, only half (51%) of households were accurate about the age of their alarms.” McKelvey told HuffPost, who reminded consumers that, on average, smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
These are slightly concerning statistics when McKelvey cited NFPA data that shows how smoke alarms reduce the likelihood of dying in a fire by more than half (60%), but only when they are working properly.
We’re all familiar with that obnoxious chirp emitting from most alarms, an alert that McKelvey said means the battery is low, needs to be cleared of dust or isn’t operating up to code. But, if you’re in the market to replace your smoke detectors altogether, McKelvey gave us some valuable consumer information and revealed that new technologies have made these devices more accurate — like alarms that won’t go off when you accidentally burn dinner.
Ahead, you can shop some smoke detectors that we selected ourselves based on McKelvey’s and the NFPA’s guidance for safe, effective and potentially life-saving options.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
McKelvey shared that most smoke alarms fall under the photoelectric or ionization category.
“Ionization alarms are more responsive to flaming fires [whereas] photoelectric alarms are more responsive to smoldering fires,” McKelvey said. “Photoelectric smoke alarms are the best type of alarms to be installed near the kitchen and bathrooms to reduce nuisance alarms.”
This First Alert smoke and fire alarm offers dual-sensors, meaning it’s both photoelectric and ionization, and requires no hard-wiring, so it provides continuous monitoring even if there’s a power failure. With a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, this alarm allows users to test its function with just a push of a button and has a loud 85-decibel siren sound.
This ionization-type detector, which is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, has a tamper-resistant design, wire-free installation and uses sensor technology that detects invisible fire particles. And if you hate replacing batteries, then you’re in luck, because it operates on a 10-year lithium battery and even detects smoke during power failure.
Note: Both Amazon and Home Depot carry these detectors but Home Depot seems like the better deal given that you get three there for the price of only two on Amazon.
Promising review: “I bought this to replace the same product whose battery life had come to an end. I love the fact that it has long lasting batteries and I don’t have to be changing batteries once a year.” — Edith St. John
“For the best protection, use combination smoke alarms that are interconnected throughout the home. These can be installed by a qualified electrician, so that when one sounds, they all sound. This ensures you can hear the alarm no matter where in your home the alarm originates,” McKelvey said.
Each of these interconnected X-Sense alarms in this 6-pack system can be controlled via a remote so users don’t have to scale ladders and step onto chairs in order to mute an alarm. They promise what McKelvey calls multi-criteria technology — a sensing system that intuitively knows the difference between smoke from cooking and smoke from smoldering fires thanks to advanced photoelectric sensors.
This First Alert SMI110 smoke alarm also boasts the multi-criteria technology that McKelvey had spoken about earlier. It claims to be precise and compliant with new industry standards to reduce cooking nuisance alarms and provides early warning in the event of a home fire emergency.
It’s also powered by a sealed battery with a 10-year lifespan so you don’t have to replace batteries and will be notified when it’s time to get a new alarm.
Promising review: “No-hassle smoke detector. I bought this smoke detector mainly because of its 10-year battery; no more climbing up on the ladder to change out 9-volts, or listening to that annoying beeping because the battery is low.” — VHH
This standalone combination alarm detects both smoke and carbon monoxide in the air and displays all vital readings and battery life on the light-up LCD screen. It’s fully battery-operated and built with a sealed lithium battery that provides 10 years of continuous power. There are also interconnected models available if you have a larger home or live with loved ones who are hard of hearing.
For a fully intelligent and multi-faceted detection system, you may be interested in the Google Nest Protect, an alarm that features a split-spectrum sensor that announces both smoldering and rapid-burning fires, as well as a sensor that detects carbon monoxide.
Seamlessly merging with Google Nest’s smart home operating system, you can have detection alerts sent directly to an app on your phone and hush alarms without having to lift a finger. Plus, when it’s time to change the batteries, the Protect will stop glowing green without any of that annoying chirping, though its battery system lasts for up to 10 years. It’s even been outfitted with a motion-detection night light that emits a soft glow whenever someone walks beneath it.
This photoelectric smoke alarm set has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon and offers similar (but more affordable) smart functionality as the Google Nest option above. Equipped with helpful voice alerts, this interconnected alarm system (available in both a one-, three- or six-alarm bundle) alerts users with information like what room a specific fire is in, low battery and device malfunctions. You can also receive emergency notifications and have full alarm control directly from the compatible app on your phone.