Smoke detectors are required in all bedrooms, stairways and hallways of a residence with a minimum of one per floor. They can either be battery operated or line voltage supplied, with or without a battery back-up. Our preference is the line voltage, battery back-up type. Reason being, when one smoke detector detects smoke or fire, all other detectors in the house receive a signal from that smoke detector, and also will sound. This is to assure that anyone inside the house hears the alarm in the event of a real fire.

Carbon monoxide detectors are required, one per floor of a residence. Like smoke detectors, they also can either be battery operated or line voltage supplied with or without a battery back-up. Once again, our preference  are the line voltage, battery back-up type. Same reason, when one carbon monoxide detector detects carbon monoxide, all other detectors in the house receive a signal from that CM detector, and also will sound. This is to assure that anyone inside the residence hears the alarm in the event that carbon monoxide is present.

Combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are now available in both battery operated and line voltage with battery backup. Now you don’t need separate detectors on each floor of your residence!