Smoke &
C02 Alarms

Two of the most important electronics in your home are also among the simplest.

The smoke detectors that provide critical fire warnings and the carbon monoxide detectors that protect you from an invisible threat are extremely basic, and that’s part of what makes them so reliable, compact and inexpensive.

It goes without saying that these are essential safety devices. Early warning against house fires can give you and your family time to escape to safety or extinguish small fires before they can spread. And when it comes to carbon monoxide, detectors are even more crucial – carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and colorless, and can leak into your home from hidden sources such as undetected cracks in your furnace’s heat exchanger.

In most cases, local Atlanta area municipal codes require smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to be hardwired by an electrician to keep your family safe in case of a fire or CO leak. These devices also require battery for back-up in case of a power outage.

Even if you have a security system that monitors these alarms, a new, wired smoke detector and CO detector must be installed after a permit for electrical work is filed.

There are two common types of smoke detectors, and each has a particular advantage over the other.

Photoelectric Detector

The photoelectric detector uses a beam of light to detect the presence of smoke in the air. This light is projected through a small chamber, and the “eye” that can see the light is pointed toward the side of the beam. When smoke particles float into the beam, the light reflects off of them and toward the eye, which then sends an electronic signal to sound the alarm.
Ionization Detector

The ionization detector uses a tiny amount of radioactive material to ionize the air inside an electrified detection chamber. As smoke enters the chamber, the particles interrupt the ionized electronic charge, creating a drop in voltage. That charge sends a signal to activate the alarm.

Photoelectric detectors are best at detecting smoldering fires that produce lots of smoke, and ionization detectors have the upper hand with small, flaring fires that produce less smoke. Some of the most sophisticated models use both technologies. If you want to cover all your bases, choose these combo detectors or use a combination of both types throughout your home.

It’s important to have an electrician install your detector to insure your unit is installed and working properly. The units Servicewise Electric installs are the hardwired smoke/CO2 combo with battery backup. These alarms use an electrochemical CO sensing technology and Ionization sensor for smoke detection. It includes a 9-volt battery for continued function in the event of a power outage, and it features a test/silence button, tamper-resistant locking brackets, and a universal mounting bracket.

This CO smoke detector can be connected to other compatible BRK and First Alert hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Its latching alarm indicator automatically identifies which unit initiated the alarm–even after the conditions that set off the alarm have subsided. The combo unit detects two threats, smoke and carbon monoxide. Lights on the face of the alarm tell you what the threat is, and false alarms can be silenced with a single button. It can connect to other combo units within a single-family residence. Once one alarm is triggered, all connected CO smoke alarms will sound. The latching alarm indicator on the CO smoke alarm automatically identifies which unit initiated the alarm–even after the conditions that set off the alarm have subsided.

Smoke detectors should be tested once a year (not just when they start chirping). CO detectors should be tested yearly as well. Our electricians can do routine safety inspections, as well as installation of these detectors in your home or business.

Servicewise Electric strives to be the best in the industry by offering the highest level of professional service every time. We are a family owned and operated company with over 25 years of experience. It would be our pleasure to service your electric needs.