How to Choose a Vocal Smoke Alarm for Your Home

By Contributing Writer

Overview

Vocal smoke alarms offer a twist to the traditional smoke alarm. Instead of just a loud, annoying alarm, a voice actually speaks when the alarm is activated. These alarms are better for children, who wake more easily to the sound of a voice than to an alarm. The alarms can also be programmed to give instructions of what to do in a fire, such as telling you to go to the fire escape on the balcony or to stay low to avoid smoke inhalation.

Step 1

Decide if you want a vocal smoke alarm with a generic, preprogrammed voice, or one that allows you to record your own voice. The benefit to being able to program your own voice is that your children may feel more comfortable with your voice. The children may remain calmer when they hear your voice giving them instructions. When you record your own voice, you can also personalize the message to you own situation and home. For instance, maybe you have a fire ladder right outside the window of your child's bedroom, and want to put this on the voice recording as a reminder.
Step 2

Decide if you just want the voice to sound, or whether you also want an alarm. Additional options include flashing strobe lights and emergency lighting.

Step 3

Choose the power source. You may choose a battery-operated alarm that will continue to work if the power goes out. Hardwired smoke alarms use 120-volt AC power and connect to an electrical box on the ceiling. The best option is a dual alarm, hardwired with a backup battery, in case there is an electrical failure in your home or the battery runs out.
Step 4

Pick any other features you might want. A low battery indicator will let you know if the battery is about to need replaced. A remote control mute lets you silence the alarm from your bed or sofa.
Step 5

Figure out whether you want an ion sensor alarm or a photoelectric sensor alarm. The ionization sensor picks up on actual fire, whereas the photoelectric sensor reacts more to smoldering fires and smoke. The ionization sensor alarm is usually the least expensive. A dual sensor alarm will give you both the ion and photoelectric sensors but is more expensive.
Step 6

Choose a UL-listed vocal smoke alarm. Underwriters Laboratories will give an alarm a UL mark if the smoke alarm meets nationally recognized safety requirements.

Skill: Moderately Easy
Tip: Vocal smoke alarms are good for children because they sleep deeper and awake more easily to a voice than to an alarm.
Tip: It is a good idea to also purchase a CO detector if your home uses fuel-burning appliances like a furnace, water heater or gas grill.
Tip: If you interconnect your smoke alarms or wire them together, all the alarms go off if one is activated. This lets you know about a fire in the basement if you are on the second floor of your home.
Warning:
Make sure to replace your smoke alarms every 10 years.

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