When I am going to be gone from home for an extended period of time, I usually only think about whether or not our 100-pound dog will make it without a chance for a potty break. Rarely do I think about what kind of danger he might be in when left home alone.

However, I am being naïve. The chances of Bear needing a potty break or getting into the cat’s food is probably significantly lower than the chance of a fire starting while I am not home. And without a home security system monitoring for heat and smoke, it could be the end of Bear because the fire department would be delayed in getting to the house to save him – or the house.

Fire Monitoring Means Faster Response Times

Think about it: If no one is home, then the fire won’t be noticed until the neighbors see or smell something, and how long will that take? Plus, you have the added time it will take for the neighbors to investigate before they call 911. They’ll want to make sure there’s a fire and not a BBQ gone awry before making that call, after all. That means that by the time the fire department gets to your home, a lot of time will have elapsed. Will there be any chance for your pets at that point?

The authorities can get there sooner, however, potentially in time to save your pets and home. With a fire alarm system in place, your home is monitored whether you’re there or not, alerting both you and the fire department at the first indication of heat or smoke.

A Different Kind of Peace of Mind

People often associate home security systems with peace of mind, in part, because burglars tend to bypass those houses they know are protected. In that way, you’re protecting your family and your property, both with the home security and with the fire monitoring. Protecting pets adds a whole new layer to that peace of mind.

This kind of monitoring checks for heat too. Although smoke detectors and fire alarms are commonplace today, heat can start to build before a fire breaks out and is apparent. So that’s one more early warning signal that can get the fire department to your house faster, to save your property and your pets.

Deadly House Fires: More Common Than You Think

If you think the chances of a fire starting at your house are slim, statistics indicate otherwise. House fires are very common. And house fires are very deadly. According to the home security review website ASecureLife.com:

• According to the National Fire Protection Association, a home fire is reported every 23 seconds.
• House fires are the third leading cause of deaths that happen at home.
• More people are killed by fires in the U.S. every year than by all natural disasters combined.

These statistics are only about people, not pets, but you can be sure the statistics for pets are probably the same or worse since they are helpless to let themselves out to escape a house fire. A fire detection system can help. It can’t prevent a fire from starting, but the early detection and notifying of authorities can go a long way toward saving your house, your things, your cats and your dogs.

Contact SafeStreets for ADT-monitored Fire Monitoring Systems

ADT-monitored smoke detectors and fire detection systems from SafeStreets can help keep your family, pets and home safe during a fire by notifying you immediately if one of the smoke and fire alarm systems detect smoke in your home. This will help you get your family and pets out of the home safely. If you’re not home, ADT-monitoring services will notify you and the local emergency services immediately to send help.

As you can see, the benefits of installing a fire protection system in your home are plentiful. To have a fire alarm monitoring system installed, contact the home security professionals at SafeStreets.

If you’re a homeowner, then you know that there are all sorts of things that can go wrong with your house. One of the scariest possibilities is an electrical fire that can spread as quickly as 30 seconds. While they can be frightening, it’s important to understand what causes them and how to prevent them from happening. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what causes an electrical fire and some tips for preventing them.

What Is An Electrical Fire?

An electrical fire is a Class C fire which is a fire that is started by energized electrical equipment or parts such as outlets, wiring, controls, appliances, motors, and machinery.

The U.S. Fire Administration says that there are approximately 47,000 electrical fires each year. It’s important to be aware that most electrical fires happen between midnight and 8 a.m. During the year, electrical fires peak during the months of December through January.

What Are The Signs Of An Electrical Fire?

There are few signs to look out for with your electrical system that could be leading directly to a potential electrical fire. 

• Old wiring is one of the most common hazards. 
• Charred or discolored outlets or light switches.
• Circuit breakers keep tripping.
• Continuous electrical burning smell with hard-to-find source.

What Causes Electrical Fires?

We know an electrical fire is caused by electricity, and even if nothing is plugged in, an electrical fire can occur. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of electrical fires:

• Water: Water is a conductor of electricity. The fire risk is high if there is even a little bit of water in your outlets, light fixtures, or electrical wiring. Water can cause a short circuit or a spark that can then lead to an electrical fire. Make sure bathroom and kitchen outlets have GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters) to prevent electrical fires caused by water.
• Kids and Pets: Kids and pets may unknowingly cause an electrical fire by chewing on electrical cords, knocking over water onto electrical parts, or laying on extension cords. 
• Extension Cords and Power Strips: If extension cords and power strips are used improperly, they can overheat and cause an electrical fire. Make sure extension cords and power strips are not damaged. Using too many extension cords and power strips can cause overloaded circuits which can cause your circuit breaker to trip frequently. 
• Damaged Wires and Cords: Check your wires and cords for any kinks, frays, or burn marks. Make sure to check all charging cords for your devices. These hazards can cause an electrical fire.
• Dead Batteries in Smoke Detectors: While dead batteries in smoke detectors don’t directly cause a fire, we at SafeStreets thought it important to note that working smoke detectors can greatly reduce damage and death from an electrical fire.

How Do I Put Out An Electrical Fire?

Make sure the electrical fire is still small enough to put it out, otherwise, get everyone out of the house immediately and call 911. There are a few things you should and shouldn’t do in order to extinguish an electrical fire. Let’s take a look: 

What TO Do:

• Unplug or turn off the power supply if possible.
• Smother the fire from the oxygen source. You can use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), a fire blanket, or a Class C fire extinguisher.

What NOT To Do:

• Do not use water to put out an electrical fire! As mentioned above, using water on an electrical fire will make it worse and could cause electrocution.
• Do not use flour when smothering a fire. The white powder that is used to smother a fire is baking soda, not flour.

How Can I Prevent Electrical Fires?

• Outlets: Make sure electrical outlets are fitted tight to the wall. Faulty electrical outlets are a common cause of electrical fires Consider installing smart plugs.
• Plugs: Don’t force plugs into electrical sockets. Make sure they are not smothered by beds or other furniture.
• Extension Cords: Only use extension cords temporarily. Avoid using an extension cord for heat-producing electrical appliances. 
• Electrical Cords: Never use near water. Don’t cover with rugs or blankets.
• Bulbs: Make sure light bulb wattage matches the fixture recommendation. Consider using smart LED light bulbs.
• GFCI’s: Place this type of outlet in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, workshop, basement, and garage.
• Smoke Detectors: Install smoke detectors, and check batteries every month.

Stay Safe With SafeStreets

Fires caused by an electrical failure are a serious risk for many homes, and they can be prevented by taking the right measures with electrical systems. We covered some things you can do to avoid an electrical fire in your home or business. Now is the time to take action. SafeStreets’ advanced smoke detectors can detect even the smallest of fires.

A SafeStreets professional will help you choose the right smart home products for your home. Our automation experts will also make sure your smart LED light bulbs, smart plugs, and especially smoke detectors are installed correctly and working to your specifications. Get a free quote today!

We’ve all experienced it: the dread that hits you when you realize the keys are missing, usually right when you’re ready to head out to the car. Getting to work can be challenging enough, but the last thing you need is your keys missing from their hook, your purse, or wherever your designated spot for them is.

You aren’t the only one that’s stressed about losing a key. 28% of us misplace our keys on a weekly basis. Not only is it inconvenient, but when losing your stuff makes you late for work, miss a flight, or keeps you from getting into your home, it can start impacting your quality of life. Not to mention, if you can’t find your keys, especially more than once, it can get expensive to replace an entire ring of keys.

Before you panic, check out our step-by-step guide on what to do if you lose your keys—and better yet, what you can do to prevent losing your keys ever again.

What To Do If You Lose Your Keys

1. Don’t Try To Break In

As tempting as it is to try and break into your house through a window or by some other means, it often costs more in damages than it does to hire a professional locksmith. Rely on a professional to help you get in before forcing your way in.

2. Contact Your Home Insurance Company

Some insurance plans cover the expense of a locksmith, so the best way to start recovering from your key loss is to call your insurance company. If they do offer some sort of locksmith coverage, it’s possible that the insurance can send a locksmith directly to your house and change your locks. Sometimes a locksmith can disassemble your lock cylinder to recreate a key, but this isn’t always possible.

If your insurance doesn’t cover locksmith services for your home, you may have to pay someone out-of-pocket. This can be expensive, but again, it’s likely cheaper than trying to break in. If you are hiring a locksmith on your own, be wary of locksmith scams. Phony locksmiths are an unfortunately common occurrence who prey on people in a desperate and stressful situation.

Some red flags you should know when trying to find a legitimate locksmith are:

• Advertising an exceptionally low price. Scammers may advertise a seemingly good deal, but then they charge you much more after the service. This can get up to a 400-500% increase.
• Having a cash-only policy. Compared to using a card or check, which you can track, cash is gone once you exchange it. Companies that insist on payments in cash can later dispute a claim if you persecute them for overcharging or not completing the service. Don’t fall for sneakier ways of saying this, like if they tell you their credit card machine is broken.
• Claiming you need a new handle. Even if you do need a new lock, there’s no reason for a locksmith to break the handle, which they will sometimes claim as the only way to get into your home. Worst of all, they’ll break it right then and there and then expect you to purchase a replacement from them on the spot. They overcharge for handles, which again leaves you paying more than you need to.
• Demanding upfront payments. If they make you pay for the service beforehand, that’s a sign that they may not be locksmiths. Don’t pay for any service that hasn’t been completed, especially if they want cash up front.
  

Here are the green flags that you should look for in a locksmith:

• They wear a uniform. One indicator that the company is valid and legal is if they show up in some sort of uniform or if their vehicle has official logos.
• Good reviews online. Always find online reviews and make sure that everything adds up before hiring a locksmith. If they have a good BBB rating, they’re probably legitimate.
• They can answer simple questions before coming. Ask some basic questions before even hiring the locksmith, such as: “Will there be any damage to my door?” or “How is the price determined? Can you give me an estimate?” This allows locksmiths to be upfront, and if they answer your questions easily and accurately, you can most likely trust them as experts.

3. Call the Police (If You Think Your Keys Were Stolen)

This is only a necessary step if you think your house keys were stolen rather than misplaced, but a completely essential step if this is the case. If your keys were stolen, it’s best to assume that someone can or will break into your house. To protect yourself, your family, and the security of your home, contact your local police and file a report. The officers will be able to instruct you on how to stay safe until you find a solution, like replacing your locks.

4. Change Your Locks

When your keys are lost for good, you’ll likely have to change your locks. The cost and time it takes to replace the locks will depend on the type of lock you have and how many you need to replace. For example, if you’ve got a second entrance to the basement or a secondary door in your garage, you might be replacing 3-4 locks.

A simple way to prevent needing to replace your locks on your house is to invest in keyless door locks. Not only do you not need a key to get in and out, but there are all sorts of other security features that come with a keyless entry. If you’re changing your locks anyway, it’s the perfect time to upgrade to a better, lasting safety solution.

What Are The Benefits Of Switching To Smart Door Locks?

Smart door locks give you the freedom to come and go from your house without stressing about keys. 

• Control your lock from anywhere. With the ADT Control App, you can do some amazing things without even being home. You can let in guests remotely, receive alerts about unexpected events or visitors, or double-check that your door is locked anytime. 
• Programmable locking. You can customize your security according to your needs, such as changing the code to the door when needed or scheduling your doors to lock automatically at certain times. Relying on automated door locks puts you in total control.
• Never get locked out again. With smart door locks, you don’t ever have to worry about getting locked out. Plus, if you have kids, they have no reason to carry around a key they can lose—instead they can use the keypad code to get in the house if a parent isn’t home.

Save the Time and Money, Let Go of the Stress

For such small objects, keys can be a big pain. Are you ready to reap the rewards of a keyless entry? SafeStreets has the perfect keyless solution for you with our ADT-monitored smart door locks.

Not only do we offer a variety of options to pick from, but every lock prioritizes safety and security. Whatever the needs of your home and family are, there’s an ADT-monitored smart door lock from SafeStreets that’s perfect for the job. With 24/7 ADT monitoring and professional installation, your safety system will be up and running, with no hiccups, no safety violations, and no stress.

Get a free quote to start enjoying keyless, stress-free home security today!

Smoke detectors are an essential safety device for every home. The risk of death in a residential fire reduces by half in households with properly functioning smoke alarms. In the event of a fire, they can detect smoke early enough to warn you and your family members of smoke before it’s too late. It is important to place smoke detectors in the right locations and keep them in good working order so that you will be alerted right away if there’s a fire. 

Let’s look at how they actually work in case you are looking for a certain type of smoke detector.

How Do Smoke Detectors Work?

Basically, smoke alarms are triggered when too many smoke particles enter the chamber and trigger a sensor that sets off the alarm. Smoke detectors work differently depending on what kind they are, so let’s look at the different types of smoke detectors.

What Are The Different Types of Smoke Detectors?

There are a few different types of smoke detectors that might suit the needs of your home. There are photoelectric smoke detectors and ionization smoke detectors as well as hard-wired smoke detectors and battery-powered smoke detectors. 

Photoelectric vs Ionization Smoke Detector: 

Photoelectric smoke detectors work optically with the use of a light source and a sensor. When smoke enters the chamber, it crosses the path of the light beam scattering the light toward the sensor which then triggers the alarm. 

An ionization smoke detector works as a physical process that uses a radioactive material between two electrically charged plates. In this way, the airflow between these two plates is ionized. When smoke particles enter the chamber, the flow of ions gets disrupted which causes a reduction in the air current which then triggers the alarm. A combination smoke detector uses both of these technologies and is recommended for residential use.

Hard-Wired vs Battery-Powered Smoke Detector: 

A hard-wired smoke detector is connected to the other smoke detectors throughout your home. When one smoke detector detects smoke, then all the smoke detectors in your home will alarm simultaneously. All hard-wired smoke detectors each have a backup battery and all are connected to your home’s electrical system. 

Battery-powered smoke detectors are powered by a battery, usually a lithium battery, and they are usually not connected to each other. 

What Makes A Smoke Detector Start Beeping?

Smoke detectors are designed to detect smoke, but occasionally your smoke detector will start beeping when there is no smoke. Most commonly, if your smoke detector is making a one-beep or “chirping” beep every minute or so, this means the battery is low. 

Both hard-wired and battery-powered smoke detectors have a battery that will run low or run out of power and will need to be replaced. In order to avoid fire emergencies, it is very important to change the batteries of your smoke detectors. Alkaline batteries last around 12-18 months while lithium batteries last around 5 years. Alarm sensors can wear out, so it is recommended to replace your smoke detectors every 10 years.

What Do Smoke Detectors Actually Detect and Not Detect?

Occasionally, different types of smoke or substances can trigger the alarm of a smoke detector. Smoke detectors have been known to occasionally detect heavy cigarette smoke, dust, and sometimes even shower steam. Smoke detectors do not detect vaping smoke or carbon monoxide. 

For carbon monoxide sources, we highly recommend using carbon monoxide detectors along with your smoke detectors.

Help Protect Your Family Against Fires With SafeStreets

Smoke detectors save lives—it’s that simple! They detect smoke and warn homeowners of any potential danger before it’s too late. Never worry about a fire spreading in your home. SafeStreets advanced smoke detectors can detect even the smallest of fires, and as soon as it happens, ADT monitoring professionals will dispatch help. Get the best coverage of fire safety in your home. Get in touch with our Smart Security Pros and get a free quote today!

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, and invisible gas that can come from many outdoor and indoor sources in the home. Carbon monoxide poisoning is when there are leaks or high levels of carbon monoxide in the air, especially in an enclosed area, where people or pets might breathe it in. 

It is important to know what produces carbon monoxide in the home so that you can be prepared with carbon monoxide detectors and alarms to prevent CO exposure.

Carbon Monoxide Sources

Where does carbon monoxide pollution come from? Sources of carbon monoxide can come from many different household appliances and equipment. Some of these sources produce toxic levels of carbon monoxide when in an enclosed space and some produce carbon monoxide when malfunctioning.

• Water heaters (gas): Carbon monoxide can be released in the home if there is something blocking proper ventilation in the vent pipe or chimney preventing exhaust gases to rise up and out. Improper installation of a gas water heater is the most common cause of a carbon monoxide leak.
• Furnaces or boilers: Older furnaces might have poorer ventilation and are at risk of a carbon monoxide leak. When operating correctly, CO gas is safely vented out of your home through the flue pipe. When flue pipes are blocked or the combustion process is malfunctioning causing backdraft, the CO gases cannot escape.
• Fireplaces and chimneys (gas and wood-burning): The best way to prevent carbon monoxide leaks caused by fireplaces is to maintain proper ventilation through the chimney and ventilation pipes.
• Clothes dryer: Many homeowners are unaware that their dryer emits carbon monoxide. A clogged dryer vent can prevent CO from properly venting through the dryer vent to the outside air.
• Stoves and ovens (gas and wood-burning): Make sure the vent is aimed slightly upward. It helps if you have a well-ventilated kitchen area. Do not heat your home with your gas stove/oven.
• Motor vehicles: If your car, or other gasoline-powered vehicles, is in an attached garage, then it is good to be aware that it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Never warm up your car in the garage even if the garage door is open. It doesn’t take long for carbon monoxide to build up, which can then leak into your home. 
• Gas-powered equipment: Gas-powered equipment includes, but is not limited to, grills, generators, power tools, lawnmowers, and other lawn equipment. Do not operate gas-powered engines or tools indoors or even in partially enclosed spaces. 
• Space heaters (kerosene and gas): Do not use space heaters that are not working properly. If you use fuel-burning space heaters, make sure they are in well-ventilated areas. Electrical space heaters are not in danger of producing carbon monoxide. 

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Now that you are aware of the most common carbon monoxide sources, let’s look at what can happen if a carbon monoxide leak occurs. The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning can quickly become fatal for people and pets. Symptoms can vary whether or not the level of carbon monoxide is low or high, but it’s important to be aware of symptoms so you can quickly take action.

Low-level concentration: 

Symptoms can include tension-like headaches, fatigue, tiredness, confusion, mild nausea, dizziness, and/or shortness of breath. The longer you are exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide, the worse these symptoms will get. 

High-level concentration: 

More severe symptoms, when exposed to a high level of carbon monoxide, can include intoxication, vertigo, fast heartbeat, loss of coordination, chest pain, muscle spasms or seizures, and/or loss of consciousness. Death can occur within minutes. If you are experiencing these symptoms and worried that they might be from a carbon monoxide leak, make sure all members of the household exit the home immediately.

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Leaks in the Home

When you take a few simple precautions, you can prevent a dangerous carbon monoxide leak in your home. Remember to never heat your home with your gas oven or stove, make sure rooms are well ventilated, and make sure sources of carbon monoxide are properly installed and maintained. 

The most important thing you can do to prevent a carbon monoxide leak is to install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. Carbon monoxide detectors will start to beep when they detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the home. With a carbon monoxide detector from SafeStreets, you won’t have to worry about what the beeps mean because it will instantly send a notification to your connected devices. All carbon monoxide detectors from SafeStreets also come equipped with these additional benefits:

• Wireless capabilities for versatile installation and ease of use
• Electrochemical sensors detect carbon monoxide even at its lowest level
• 24/7 ADT monitoring 
• Instant notification if a detector has been tampered with
• Professional installation

Stay Safe with SafeStreets

Carbon monoxide is the silent killer. Every homeowner worries about a carbon monoxide leak in their home. Fix the problem as soon as a leak occurs with SafeStreets’ carbon monoxide detectors. Whenever one of your carbon monoxide detectors detect a leak, you will receive instant notifications on all of your connected devices. Get in touch with our Smart Security Pros to learn more about our carbon monoxide detectors. Get a free quote today!

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that can be deadly if you breathe it in large amounts. You can’t see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide, so it can be lifesaving to have carbon monoxide detectors in case of leaks.

Correct carbon monoxide detector placement is essential for your home because they alert you when carbon monoxide (CO) levels become unsafe by sounding an alarm or displaying a warning light that indicates CO levels have exceeded safe limits. 

Here are the recommendations for where to install carbon monoxide detectors for best use.

Installing Carbon Monoxide Detectors

The first thing you’ll want to consider when thinking about where to place carbon monoxide detectors is what kind of detector you have. Depending on the detectors you have, you may have more or fewer options when it comes to placement in your home. There are three main types on the market today:

Hardwired – Hardwired carbon monoxide detectors are reliable because they are connected to the main power supply of your home. They are all connected so the alarms will all go off together, simultaneously and continuously beeping until turned off manually. Hardwired detectors have a backup battery in case of a power outage. 

Battery – Battery-powered carbon monoxide detectors depend only on batteries. When the battery is low, the alarm will chirp indicating that the detector needs a new battery.

Plug-in – Plug-in carbon monoxide detectors are plugged in directly to electrical outlets with a battery backup in case of a power outage. Placement is limited to the locations of outlets in your home.

Where To Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Proper placement of carbon monoxide detectors could mean life or death. This list offers the most common suggestions on where to place carbon monoxide detectors around your home. The most important locations are sleeping areas and placements near sources of carbon monoxide.

Where should carbon monoxide detectors be placed:

• Every level of your home.
• Outside every sleeping area.
• 5 feet from the ground.  
• Areas required by local law. 
• Near sources of Carbon Monoxide. 
• Near an attached garage. 
• Take into consideration manufacturer recommendations.

Where shouldn’t carbon monoxide detectors be placed:

• Near windows or blowing air.
• Near flame-producing appliances or fireplaces.
• In direct sunlight. 
• Humid areas. 
• Lower than 5 feet from the ground.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors vs. Smoke Detectors

While both detectors, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are used for two very different life safety measures. 

Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Carbon Monoxide Detectors detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, alerting the household of poisonous CO gas in the air.

Smoke Detectors – Smoke detectors detect smoke and sometimes heat, alerting the household of a possible fire. 

What Do You Do If Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Goes Off?

When in doubt, get out! If you aren’t sure why your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, it’s always safest to get out of your house first and then determine if it’s an actual leak or a battery warning. Here are the beeps you should be aware of:

4 Beeps and a Pause – Emergency! Exit your home immediately and call 911.

1 Beep Every Minute – Your carbon monoxide detector is running low on battery. No need to call emergency services, simply change the battery. Tip: Change batteries every six months to avoid this!

5 Beeps Every Minute – Sadly, the life of your carbon monoxide detector is coming to an end and needs to be replaced. No need to call emergency services, but replace the detector as soon as possible to continue monitoring CO levels in your home.

Certain carbon monoxide detectors can help you take the guesswork out of beeping. At SafeStreets, our ADT-monitored carbon monoxide detectors will send an instant notification to your connected devices letting you know what’s happening. Battery low? Leak detected? All will be sent as a notification in addition to beeping. 

Choosing the Right Carbon Monoxide Detectors

When considering carbon monoxide detector placement, here’s what to look for in a good carbon monoxide detector:

• Versatile Mounting – For safe and discrete locations, this makes it easy to place your carbon monoxide detectors on the ceiling or wall with wireless capabilities.
• 24/7 Monitoring – Detectors connected to an ADT monitoring center are monitored 24/7 by ADT professionals who can dispatch emergency services if your alarms are triggered.
• Smart home integration – With SafeStreets, a new voice-controlled Smart Home app lets customers use voice-activated commands to interact with their ADT Pulse system.
• Mobile instant notifications – Receive instant notifications whenever a leak occurs in your home or if you need to change its batteries.
• Long Battery Life – Look for carbon monoxide detectors that have a long battery life to take out the hassle of changing batteries every six months. SafeStreets uses lithium-ion batteries with up to 10 years of battery life.
• Electrochemical Sensors – Install detectors that can detect a leak even at its lowest levels.
• Tamper Resistance – If a detector is taken off its base or its battery levels are low, a control panel can alert you.
• Professional Installation – Leave the hassle of installation to the pros. SafeStreets professionals can help you choose the right carbon monoxide detector, customize detector placement, ensure correct installation, and consider specific specifications.

Stay Safe With SafeStreets

Carbon monoxide is the silent killer. Every homeowner worries about a carbon monoxide leak in their home. Fix the problem as soon as a leak occurs with SafeStreets’ ADT-monitored carbon monoxide detectors. SafeStreets can help you make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are installed correctly and placed in the right locations. Whenever one of your carbon monoxide detectors detect a leak, you will receive instant notifications on all of your connected devices. 

Get in touch with our Smart Security Pros to learn more about our carbon monoxide detectors. Get your free quote today!

The shrill beeping of a fire alarm when you’re cooking or in the middle of the night is definitely irritating. While the purpose of smoke alarms is to alert you of danger, sometimes they go off when there’s no fire. And there are few noises quite as loud and disruptive in your home than a beeping fire alarm with no apparent cause. If your fire alarm keeps going off, we’ll cover how these smoke alarms work, some of the most common reasons why they might go off, and how to adjust them correctly. 

How Do Smoke Alarms Work? 

Understanding how smoke alarms work can help with understanding why they might be going off. Two types of alarms use two different ways of detecting smoke: photoelectric and ionization. 

Photoelectric smoke alarms use a beam of light in their internal chamber to detect smoke. When particles get into the chamber and fracture the beam of light, the alarm goes off. An ionization smoke detector also has a chamber inside, but this chamber has ions and electrons whizzing around inside. When smoke gets inside, the smoke particles attach to the ions, which changes the chemical structure and triggers the alarm. Smoke particles aren’t the only things that can disrupt the photoelectric light beam or attach to the ions, and that’s why fire alarms can sometimes go off without an apparent fire. 

Causes of Smoke Alarms Going Off 

Essentially, what makes your fire alarms keep going off is something disrupting the chamber inside of it. But there are a variety of factors that might do that. These are some of the most common reasons why your smoke detectors might be going off: 

Placement

Smoke detectors should be in every bedroom, in hallways, near fireplaces, near the kitchen, and stairways. But where you put the smoke detectors in these locations could be the problem with your false alarms. Is your smoke detector over a stove? Is it right next to a bathroom where steam from a shower might set it off? Is it above a toaster? Is it directly next to a window or door where outside elements might set it off? All of these questions are worth considering when you’re looking for causes of a fire alert.  

Burned Food

Burned food creates smoke, and if that smoke ends up near a smoke alarm, it’ll go off. If your smoke detector is less than ten feet away from the appliances, you could use a fan or install a vent to help suck out some of that excess smoke. If the alarm is far enough away, you might want to look at your smoke detector’s sensitivity. 

Steam & Humidity

Steam from your home and humidity from outside work similarly to burned food. You’ll want to check if your alarms are too close to a window, door, or steamy bathroom and see if that’s the source of your false alarms. You can try using fans during showers or next to windows to dissipate the steam and humidity as well. But your alarms might not be too close and still go off whenever the bathroom gets steamy. That, again, might be a problem with the sensitivity.

Insects

It’s disgusting but true: insects can get trapped in the chambers inside of a smoke detector. These bugs can then set off your smoke alarm for no apparent reason. It’s worth taking a look inside your smoke detector to see if a pesky insect might be causing your false alarms. 

Dust

The same little holes that might let a bug in can also let in dust. Over time, this dust can build up and disrupt the sensors inside of the alarm and set it off. It’s worth cleaning out your smoke detectors if they’re going off. But to make sure a dust build-up isn’t the cause, you should try to clean out your smoke detectors at least once a year. A vacuum brush attachment is an easy way to clean it out. 

Chemicals

Proximity to strong chemicals can also make your smoke alarm go off. If you store your cleaning supplies right by a smoke alarm, that might be the problem. Or if you’re remodeling your home or painting, that could also be the source of your false alarms. 

Batteries

The average smoke alarm battery needs to be changed every six months. Many people change them each Daylight Savings day to help remember. If your smoke alarm needs new batteries, it will chirp and beep for a prolonged period or repeatedly. To avoid having to worry about changing the smoke detector batteries, there are smoke detectors that run for ten years without needing a switch. 

Malfunction

Malfunctions with a smoke detector don’t happen very often, but they can happen. If there seems to be no other cause for the alarm, you might have a smoke detector malfunction. A malfunction signals that it’s time for a new fire alarm. 

End of Life 

When smoke detectors reach the end of their life, they’ll beep and let you know. Sometimes the cause of the false alarms is that it’s time to get your fire alarms replaced. 

Adjusting Your Smoke Detector

If you’re having trouble with your smoke detectors, these are some of the most common ways to adjust them: 

• Place them in the right spots. Putting smoke detectors in bedrooms, hallways, stairways, and near kitchens and other fire hazards is important. But you should keep them at least 10 feet away from kitchen appliances, bathrooms, windows, and doors to avoid setting the alarm off. 
• Check the battery life and connection regularly. Replace the batteries every six months to keep alarms from going off. If you have smart smoke detectors, check the connection if you’re getting false alarms. 
• Adjust the sensitivity. Only adjust the sensitivity with professional guidance because you don’t want to adjust it too far. When you’re ready, you can use a screwdriver to remove the data card and make the adjustments according to the guidance you received and the owner’s manual. 
• Consider a smart smoke detector. Smart smoke detectors send notifications to your phone about battery life and any other important information. You can also use your phone to turn off a false alarm more easily. Smart smoke detectors give you more control over your home fire system. 

Finding the Right Smoke Detector

Smoke detectors are essential to keeping your family and home safe. Almost every 3 out of 5 home fire deaths happen in houses without smoke detectors. The best smoke detectors provide top-tier protection and control. Here at SafeStreets, we provide high-quality smoke detectors to help keep your family and home safe. Our detectors can detect even the smallest fires, and ADT monitoring professionals will dispatch help your home when they go off. We take fire safety seriously. Check out our fire and life safety products or call us for a free quote to get started finding the right smoke detectors.

When it comes to keeping your family safe, smoke detectors are essential. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 3 out of 5 home fire deaths happen in homes without smoke detectors or working smoke detectors. One key part of keeping your smoke detectors working is the smoke alarm battery. Read on to learn more about smoke detector batteries and why ADT smoke detectors are the best on the market. 

What Is the Best Smoke Detector Battery? 

One common question many people ask is what the best smoke alarm battery is. Older smoke detectors use a 9V battery. These are pretty decent batteries that have been the best choice for many years. Nowadays though, it’s much more common to find smoke detectors that use 2–3 AA batteries. If you can, you should choose AA batteries for smoke detectors. These AA batteries hold three times more energy than the 9V batteries. 

In some areas of the country, you’re required to have a 10-year sealed battery for your smoke detectors. These batteries do last an entire decade without having to change them. Even if it’s not required, everyone can choose to buy a 10-year smoke detector to avoid having to change the batteries frequently. Instead, you’ll change the smoke detectors after 10 years (which is around when you should change out any smoke detector). These 10-year batteries will make a noise to let you know when it’s time to buy new detectors. 

How Often Do I Change the Smoke Alarm Battery?

Unless you have a 10-year battery life, the NFPA recommends that you change your smoke detector batteries every six months. Many people find it easier to remember to change the batteries in smoke detectors around Daylight Savings time when they’re already changing their clocks. Your alarm will also chirp or beep if the battery needs to be replaced at another time. 

How Do I Replace the Battery? 

When it comes time to change your batteries, these are the basic steps that work with nearly every smoke detector: 

1. Turn off the main power at your circuit breaker to avoid any electrical shock. 
2. Remove the cover of the smoke detector. If you’re unsure of how to remove the cover, a user’s manual will have that information. 
3. Remove the old battery and put the new battery in. Watch to make sure that the positive and negative sides of the battery are put in correctly. 
4. Test the smoke detector. You’ll want to test it before you reinstall it. Most smoke detectors have a testing button that you push. If the new batteries don’t work, it means you need a new smoke detector. 
5. Reinstall the smoke detector. 

What Makes Your Smoke Detector Beep?

If you’re hearing a beeping or chirping sound randomly from your smoke detector, it might be that it needs a new battery. But if you install new batteries and the chirping continues, there could be other factors that are affecting your smoke detector: 

• The battery could be loose. Make sure that it can’t be shaken loose. 
• Make sure to use a battery with a use-by date no later than four to five years in the future.
• Batteries can sometimes fail at making good contact with battery connections. To fix this, disconnect and reconnect the battery a few times. 
• Make sure that the battery compartment door is completely closed. 
• Check if there’s loose white neutral wiring. 
• Check if it’s caused by humidity, steam, or condensation. 
• Lower or raise the temperature of the room. Smoke detectors work from 40–95 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Choosing a Smoke Detector

When it comes to a smoke detector, you need to choose one that will keep your family safe. At SafeStreets, our smoke detectors from ADT are the best in the business and built to last without worry. They feature early detection technology that will alert you before you can even smell smoke and also alert your local fire department to have help on the way as quickly as possible. 

Instead of worrying about smoke detectors, you spend time on the things that really matter. With a smoke detector from ADT, you’ll get:

• A smart touchscreen hub connection that lets you know when the battery is low
• Notifications directly to your phone if the battery is low
• Lithium-ion batteries that last 6+ years so you don’t have to change the battery that often
• Access to easy video tutorials when you do need to replace the battery

Get a free quote for smoke detectors today.

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Having a carbon monoxide detector in your home is not only instrumental in avoiding health dangers, but it also provides peace of mind that you’ll always know if a leak occurs. 

Read on to learn more about what you should do if your carbon monoxide detector is beeping, the difference between beeping signals, and how to prevent carbon monoxide dangers.

What Do You Do If Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Is Beeping?

If you hear your carbon monoxide alarm beeping, IMMEDIATELY leave your home. Exposure to carbon monoxide can quickly lead to poisoning, heart disease, and even fatalities. Keep your family safe by getting everyone (including your fur babies!) outside into the fresh air as soon as the alarm starts beeping. Call 911, and don’t re-enter your home until your local emergency responders tell you it’s safe to do so. 

The Dangers Of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas that emits from powering household items or equipment with charcoal, wood, gas, or oil. If it spreads through your home, your family’s health and home are at high risk. As mentioned, inhalation of carbon monoxide can lead to CO poisoning, heart disease, and potentially even fatalities. CO poisoning is the most common result of carbon monoxide exposure which can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, confusion, and shortness of breath. You should go to the hospital immediately if you have any of these symptoms and believe or know you’ve been exposed to carbon monoxide.

However, there are some things you can do to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from happening. These include 1). making sure your appliances are running how they should on an annual basis, 2). cleaning your chimney (if applicable) once a year, 3). running vehicles, lawnmowers, or other equipment outside instead of in an enclosed space, and 4). keeping your home’s vents unblocked by furniture and/or other items. Of course, it’s still possible for CO to spread throughout a home which is why installing carbon monoxide detectors to catch any leaks or levels of CO is so important.

Types Of Carbon Monoxide Alarm Beeps

There are a couple of different reasons why your carbon monoxide detector might be beeping. Various beeping signals from your detector have different meanings. Know the difference between an emergency signal and just a battery warning when your carbon monoxide alarm is going off. 

4 Beeps And A Pause

This alarm sequence means an emergency. When the system detects a dangerous level of carbon monoxide, four beeps followed by a quick pause of silence will begin sounding on repeat. This type of carbon monoxide alarm beeping should be followed by the immediate exit of your home and a call to 911. 

1 Beep Every Minute

This intermittent alarm means your carbon monoxide detector is running on a low battery. This warning alarm is only one beep every 60 or so seconds. This type of carbon monoxide alarm beeping will subside once the batteries have been changed and doesn’t require a 911 call. To avoid this beeping altogether, plan a time to change your carbon monoxide detector’s batteries every six months. 

5 Beeps Every Minute

This alarm sequence means your detector as a whole will need replacement soon. This alarm is signaling that the system is on its last leg of life by chirping five times every 60 or so seconds. This carbon monoxide alarm going off will typically happen if your detector is 5-7 years old (the average lifespan of a carbon monoxide detector). If this alarm occurs, there is no need to call 911. Simply replace the detector as soon as possible so you can continue monitoring CO levels in your home.

Help Protect What Matters Most With SafeStreets 

Knowing the different alarms and responding appropriately will help you avoid carbon monoxide sickness and keep your family and home safe. ADT-monitored carbon monoxide detectors from SafeStreets give this silent killer a voice that can save lives. You can rest easy knowing that nothing in your home is how it shouldn’t be with electrochemical sensors that detect carbon monoxide poisoning even at its lowest levels. Plus, you’ll never have to guess at the meaning of your carbon monoxide alarm going off again. Whenever one of our carbon monoxide detectors detects a leak, you will receive instant notifications on all your connected devices. And with 24/7 ADT monitoring, ADT professionals will be there to dispatch emergency responders to your home for assistance if your sensors are triggered. 

Get complete protection of your home and family when you install SafeStreets carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Call us today to learn more about our carbon monoxide detectors and get a free quote. 

As I write this, the longest day of the year is fast approaching. And longer days mean summertime activities…which means taking into account safety considerations we don’t really think about during the rest of the year.

It turns out we’ve covered dozens of summer safety topics over the years in the blog. To help you find the summer safety tips most relevant to your planned (or unplanned) activities, we provide a roundup of our most popular summer safety tips below:

On the road again
For many families, summer time means travel time, by plane, train, car, boat or on foot. Here are some summer safety tips to keep you and yours safe and sane while traveling:

• 4 Tips for Safer Summer Road Trips
• 5 Taxi Safety Tips
• 6 Rental Car Safety Tips

Family matters
Summer can also mean guests arriving or kids staying home or a general change in the daily routine. Below are some summer safety tips to make sure everyone makes it to the end of summer alive and well!

• 8 Ways to Make Your Home Safer for Summer Guests
• 3 Ways to Keep Kids Safe When Home Alone

Making waves…
And summertime means splashing around, in the pool, lake or river. Water is wonderful but be wary because thousands of people drown each year—an average of 10 per day. Check out these safety tips before anyone slips into a swimsuit or boat:

• Why Everyone Should Learn to Swim—Yes, Everyone
• 4 Pool Safety Reminders to Read Now

Summer security…
Although you might be planning a summer vacation or getaway, that doesn’t mean the burglars are taking time off. In fact, burglars are more active in the summer. Before you go on that getaway, follow the guidelines in these posts:

• Easy Ways to Secure Your Home Before You Leave on Vacation
• Why You Shouldn’t Post Your Vacation Photos on Facebook Until You’re Back Home

The great outdoors…
Finally, what is summer without time outside, either keeping up with yardwork or exploring the great outdoors in nature?

• Critical Hiking Safety Tips
• 6 Items to Always Pack When Heading Outside for Summer Fun

And if you’re not sure your summer will offer as much downtime as you’d like, learn 4 ways a home automation system can help you enjoy summer more!