Retail smoke detectors do NOT work the way you think, and can leave your family at risk. I realize that in-depth studies can get very long (and very boring) to read and can still sometimes leave you wondering what you just read. In this article, I will attempt to cut a 3-year, several hundred page study down to a few paragraphs of information that your family can really use.

This study, titled “Full Scale Research and Testing of Fire Detection Systems in a Residential Structure conducted at Texas A&M University” was done in the mid ’90s and to this day is the only study I am aware of that was complete (taking all factors into consideration) and went through a peer-review process. (That means all the experts in the field think it is really good…and accurate!)

What makes this study unique is the fact that it used real information about the likelihood that our detector would work properly, factoring real-life scenarios that we all must deal with, such as failure because of lack of maintenance, improper location, lack of power source, lack of quality in the manufacturing process, etc. Then, they used this information, along with hundreds of live fire tests using real-life variables, such as windows and doors open or shut, ceiling fans on or off, and heat or AC on or off. They then used mathematical formulas to determine the …

Tweet

DeTech saved 263 lives in home fires. Our nationwide network of independent dealers has combined to save the lives of 263 people so far, but what may be even more impressive is that no DeTech customers’ lives have ever been lost.

There are probably a lot more lives our smoke alarms and heat detectors are responsible for saving, but 263 is what we have documented. We actually have letters from these families at our World Headquarters in Saukville, WI that tell the individual stories. They are all very moving, but some of them will bring you to tears thinking about what may have happened if not for our dedicated safety consultants and our quality products.

Our smoke detectors do what we say they do and they are built to last with a minimum of maintenance. That’s not only what people need, but it’s what they want. No one wants to mess with trying to remember to test their smoke alarms, replace batteries, clean the alarms and replace them every few years. No one wants to do that…and almost no one will.

Our exemplary record is intact for several reasons. To start with, we believe that educating our potential customers is most important and I don’t know of any other company that spends virtually all of its advertising dollars educating the public the way our local independent dealers …

Tweet

To start with, I suspect less than 1% of families have ever read the manual for their smoke detectors. Who needs it…I mean, how hard can it be to throw a few screws in the wall or ceiling? You don’t need a manual for that, right?

I would like to challenge you to really read the whole thing. If you do, you will probably wonder how they can even sell these things. And you will certainly be questioning their value…as you should!

As I write this, I am looking at an owner’s manual for a smoke detector. I prefer not to mention the brand name, as knocking any particular brand is not my purpose with this article, but let’s just say it is a very well-known brand.

On the very first page it says, “According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency of the U.S. Government, they may not go off, or give early enough warning in as many as 35% of all fires.” WHAT! This is a brand new detector with brand new batteries and they just told you it won’t work 35% of the time! What appliance do you have that you would tolerate that from? Of course, they know you will never read the manual. What if you bought a new car and…no one told bothered to tell …

Tweet

Choosing the right Carbon Monoxide Detector to protect your family can save lives. Here’s some hard-to-find information to help you. Having the right information about carbon monoxide detectors will help you make the right decision for your family. Just like smoke detectors, not all carbon monoxide detectors are created equal. When it comes to detection devices that could save your life in a home fire, many families don’t get a second chance…you need to get this right the first time. This does not mean just buying the right detector and technology. It also means making sure you have the detectors in the right place.

The recommended location is one per floor of your home, but at the least you should have one on every floor of the home where someone is sleeping. You do NOT want to locate your carbon monoxide detector too close (15 ft) to any gas appliance or fireplace. Many appliances will emit some small amounts of carbon monoxide every time they start; usually any appliance that has a pilot light, such as many furnaces, dryers, gas stoves, etc.

There are many differing thoughts as to where to locate the detectors in the room. I find it interesting, and possibly more than a coincidence, that many companies that have combination CO and smoke detectors, recommend them on the ceiling or high on the wall. …

Tweet