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When you protect a house from fire, you have to think of all of the different options of fire alarms. Many houses are under-protected and, funnily enough, some houses can be over-protected. Some systems are simply better for home life than others and you must take all of these into account.
Getting a dog is a great place to start. Due to the animal's loyalty to you and its ability to be woken up very easily--and to wake YOU up easily--a dog is a great sensor. They can often smell smoke just as a fire is starting and rouse you in order that you put it out before damage happens. Dogs are not the last word on the matter, but merely a good supplement to an alarm system.
Though a dog can stop a great deal of damage from happening, some fires spread far too fast for you to be able to catch them. You need to have something that could alert the fire department. A dog, sadly, is not up to that task. Do not rely on manual systems where you have to call a fire department. You do not have time to be stopping to make a phone call while you are trying to escape a fire.
Just be careful you do not have a system that is too sensitive. Smoke happens often when people are cooking; it would be very irritating if the department was called down often due to an overly-sensitive alarm. What you need is a modern one that can tell by the amount of smoke or the degree of heat if there is a legitimate concern or not. Really modern ones have motion detectors that identify flames.
And only get a sprinkler system if you are sure it will not go off every time you cook. Sprinklers are the absolute last resort and can damage your possessions and cause mold to grow in your house if it goes off unwarrantably. Sprinklers tend to be for buildings that are insured and have many people in them who need protection.
Another thing to avoid is a pull-alarm system. These only work if you are there to see the fire in the first place. You need a good, modern alarm with both lights and sound to make sure you notice it. Put one in every room if you can, or at least the most central rooms. Never take the batteries from an alarm, even if they are dying and beeping. Replace them at once.
Have a hand-held fire extinguisher. Know where it is and how to use it. Put it somewhere where it cannot go bad (it should be kept at certain temperatures) and someplace where it could not be blocked in a fire. Test it once a year to make sure it still works. Shoot it off while outside, but do it briefly so you do not use up all the foam.
Getting a dog is a great place to start. Due to the animal's loyalty to you and its ability to be woken up very easily--and to wake YOU up easily--a dog is a great sensor. They can often smell smoke just as a fire is starting and rouse you in order that you put it out before damage happens. Dogs are not the last word on the matter, but merely a good supplement to an alarm system.
Though a dog can stop a great deal of damage from happening, some fires spread far too fast for you to be able to catch them. You need to have something that could alert the fire department. A dog, sadly, is not up to that task. Do not rely on manual systems where you have to call a fire department. You do not have time to be stopping to make a phone call while you are trying to escape a fire.
Just be careful you do not have a system that is too sensitive. Smoke happens often when people are cooking; it would be very irritating if the department was called down often due to an overly-sensitive alarm. What you need is a modern one that can tell by the amount of smoke or the degree of heat if there is a legitimate concern or not. Really modern ones have motion detectors that identify flames.
And only get a sprinkler system if you are sure it will not go off every time you cook. Sprinklers are the absolute last resort and can damage your possessions and cause mold to grow in your house if it goes off unwarrantably. Sprinklers tend to be for buildings that are insured and have many people in them who need protection.
Another thing to avoid is a pull-alarm system. These only work if you are there to see the fire in the first place. You need a good, modern alarm with both lights and sound to make sure you notice it. Put one in every room if you can, or at least the most central rooms. Never take the batteries from an alarm, even if they are dying and beeping. Replace them at once.
Have a hand-held fire extinguisher. Know where it is and how to use it. Put it somewhere where it cannot go bad (it should be kept at certain temperatures) and someplace where it could not be blocked in a fire. Test it once a year to make sure it still works. Shoot it off while outside, but do it briefly so you do not use up all the foam.
About the Author:
Jason Williams is an expert in house alarm systems. If you would like further information about types of fire alarm systems or are looking for a reputable security company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk
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