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What is a Wireless Fire Alarm?

Erika Peterson
Erika Peterson

A wireless fire alarm is an electronic device that is used to monitor a building for fire. Such devices can detect not only smoke, but also heat. Most wireless fire alarms have a high pitched alarm that warns everyone in the building in case of a fire. In addition to the audio warning system, a wireless fire alarm can also be hooked up to a 24-hour monitoring center.

A 24-hour monitoring center may or may not be affiliated with a security company. Monitoring centers offer live support and alerts in case of an emergency. Wireless fire alarm monitoring is essential in order to ensure the safety of a building or home. The monitoring center sends out instant help when the wireless fire alarm detects fire, smoke or heat.

A wireless smoke alarm should be checked for working batteries on a regular basis.
A wireless smoke alarm should be checked for working batteries on a regular basis.

Wired fire alarms can be difficult to install, and they can take many hours to be put in correctly. The installation process can include getting into walls and installing wires. It can be a messy situation. As a result of the drawbacks with wired alarms, wireless fire alarms were created. Many people have began to install and use wireless fire alarms because of their effectiveness and ease of use. These alarms can be installed as one component of a large security system to provide total building protect or alone solely for fire protection.

Wireless fire alarms usually send a signal to a keypad or another type of transmitter.
Wireless fire alarms usually send a signal to a keypad or another type of transmitter.

Whether part of an expansive security system or a simple fire protection plan, there can be multiple wireless fire alarms installed in a single building. In fact, for optimal fire protection there should be multiple alarms in a building or home. These alarms usually send a signal to a keypad or another type of transmitter. Along with the audio warning, a property owner may also receive a phone call from a monitoring company to confirm the situation. Many monitoring companies will not send out emergency services before calling the property owner. After all, wireless fire alarms can be extremely sensitive and there could be a situation occurring that the monitoring center is not aware of.

When choosing a wireless fire alarm for your property, it is important to consider function. Some fire alarms are built especially for commercial and industrial properties. On the other hand, some alarms are made especially for residential homes. You may want to consider multiple alarms for different locations in a building in order to obtain the essential amount of protection against fire, smoke and heat.

Discussion Comments

bagley79

I have a home based business that is set up in a building outside my home, but on the same property.

When this was set up, I had a wireless commercial fire alarm system installed. This way if there happened to be a fire in the building outside my house, I would be alerted no matter where I was.

Even though I paid more for a system like this, I feel like the extra money is worth the peace of mind.

No matter what kind of fire alarm system you install, I would recommend they have a battery backup. That just makes good sense to me.

So many times we don't think much about our fire alarms until they start beeping when the batteries are low. Even though this can by annoying, it is really nice to have that feature so you know when they need to be replaced.

LisaLou

I recently went to a presentation where a man was selling fire alarms. He had been doing this for over 20 years, and I really felt like I learned some valuable information.

Of course, some of the presentation really centered on your emotions, but I can imagine if I ever had a house fire, I would understand even better.

The thing I was most impressed with about a wireless security alarm is the ability for all of them to be linked together.

If there is a fire in the basement and you are upstairs sleeping in the bedroom, you might not hear the alarm soon enough. When they are all linked together, if one alarm goes off, all of them do. This way you are alerted about a fire much quicker than you would be if they were all separate.

This is great for big, older homes which I have. Another thing that struck me is that they will react to heat and smoke, not just smoke.

I think anything we can do to have quicker fire detection in our homes is well worth the money.

rugbygirl

@MissDaphne - Absolutely, you can get wireless alarm systems that when one smoke detector sounds, they all sound. You want one that says it's "interconnectable."

You can tell you have them set up right when you push the test button for one, and you hear the others beep as well.

It is *not* particularly expensive to get interconnectable alarms, so I would suggest that you go ahead and do it. It's even possible that the fire department *gave* you interconnected alarms and you didn't realize it, so you might want to test - I would be surprised if they gave you the old-fashioned battery kind any time in the last few years. My understanding is that interconnected is now the standard, and perhaps required by law in many places.

MissDaphne

I have heard that a major advantage of hard-wired fire alarms is that if one goes off, all the others in a house will as well. Do any wireless fire alarm systems have that linking capability?

My house came with hard-wired fire alarms, but unfortunately they had expired! The fire department said they would have to be replaced by an electrician and it would likely be very expensive, so they gave me two free battery smoke detectors to use as backups. There was a good chance that the hard-wired ones would go off, but being past their date, the fire department inspector said it would be best to have a backup.

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    • A wireless smoke alarm should be checked for working batteries on a regular basis.
      By: Serenethos
      A wireless smoke alarm should be checked for working batteries on a regular basis.
    • Wireless fire alarms usually send a signal to a keypad or another type of transmitter.
      By: Kenishirotie
      Wireless fire alarms usually send a signal to a keypad or another type of transmitter.