However, how many of us can honestly say that we regularly check our smoke alarms—testing that the batteries are still working and that the alarm will sound loud and clear should it need to? Can we put our heads down at night safe in the knowledge that our smoke alarm is actually protecting us while we sleep?
Smart smoke alarms can change all that. They send you messages and alerts if there’s any kind of problem, or if the batteries are running low. Many of them self-test and can give you an all-clear sound to let you know that everything is in perfect working order before you turn in for the night.
Here are the best smart smoke alarms available right now.
Q: What Are the Benefits of a Smart Smoke Detector?
The ability to detect fires much faster. One of the main advantages of a smart smoke detector is that it can detect a fire much faster than a traditional smoke alarm. They offer greater reliability and battery life and have the added benefit of being able to transmit instant text alerts to your smartphone in the event that the alarm is triggered.
Connect your Google Nest Protect to the Wi-Fi and it will monitor your home for any smoke or carbon monoxide and will tell you exactly where the problem is—allowing you to act quickly in response.
Voice notifications are given to alert you to minor problems, such as smoke resulting from burnt toast for instance. Should you be away from home, alerts will also be sent directly to your phone; to let you know that the alarm is ringing, to notify you of any other problems or simply to tell you that the batteries are running low.
A safety check feature enables you to test your smoke alarm with the press of a button and will provide you with a full report once complete.
The button at its center glows a different color, depending on the current status of the device. Blue signifies that the Nest Protect is active and that all is well. The green light kicks in once the lights are out, to let you know that self-checks have been completed and that your smart smoke alarm will function perfectly overnight.
Yellow light confirms a ‘heads-up’ warning—an alert to a small amount of smoke. This will also be reinforced by voice notifications and/or text alerts so that nothing will be missed. A red light will glow should there be an emergency situation, when smoke or CO in the room has reached dangerous levels.
Lastly, there is a Pathlight feature. If you walk underneath your Nest Protect at night, it will switch on a night light, to allow you to safely traverse the room without knocking anything over, or stubbing your toe on the chair leg! A handy extra feature to stop any bumps in the night.
Best of all the Google Nest Protect houses sensors that have a 10-year lifespan, meaning that once it’s installed, your smart smoke alarm can keep you and your family safe for up to 10 years.
For comprehensive coverage of your home, this smart smoke alarm can give you total peace of mind with a long lifespan to boot.
As well as sending you the usual text alert notifications, this smart smoke alarm also features unique voice alerts. High-powered sensors help the device distinguish between threats of smoke or carbon monoxide, and the voice alerts will sound accordingly. You’ll be notified if the alarm is sounding for smoke or fire, or if the alert is for CO instead.
The idea behind this feature is that in an emergency situation it will help to reduce panic, by providing a clear warning as to the nature of the problem.
A solid Wi-Fi connection enables easy smartphone tracking of this smart smoke alarm. Monitor your device’s control detector via the app, to keep tabs on the CO alarm, smoke alarm, battery life, voltage levels, test alarms or to check when the device is reaching the end of its life and needs replacing.
Nuisance alarms can be minimized with this smart smoke alarm too, as its photoelectric smoke sensing technology can detect slow smoldering fires quickly. So, you needn’t worry about your alarm tripping every time there’s a bit of smoke from cooking in the kitchen, for example.
This smart smoke alarm can also test itself and notify you if there are any of its features that are failing.
There is definitely plenty to consider with this Siterwell Wi-Fi smoke detector if you’re looking for a smart smoke alarm to protect your home.
This device performs three separate analyses every ten seconds. The benefit of these is that they will remove any interference from wind, dust, or non-hazardous smoke. After all, everyone wants the safety benefits from a fully functioning smoke alarm, without unimportant nuisance alarms being triggered.
Up-to-the-minute alerts and notifications will be sent to your smartphone, instantly notifying you if the alarm is sounding, or if there has been any change in the device’s status.
The X-Sense regularly self-checks itself and the results of the checks are reported via the app so that you can easily tell at a glance whether your alarm is in full working order. Similarly, the app will help you monitor battery life, alarm start/stop notifications, any fault warnings, etc.
You can schedule an alarm self-check via the app too, and can also use your phone to silence the alarm sound in a non-emergency situation.
Multiple X-Sense smart smoke alarms can be installed in the home and can all be tracked separately as well.
This smart smoke alarm lets you go about your day, safe in the knowledge that the safety of your home is in good hands.
Use this smart smoke alarm to talk to Alexa, play music or podcasts from your favorite streaming sites, or listen to your favorite audiobooks. The built-in omnidirectional smart speaker function definitely sets this device apart from other smart smoke alarms out there.
Whether this extra functionality is something you would actually want from this type of device will be entirely up to you.
Now that the sound aspect has been covered, how about the safe bit? Well, this is also a smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm that you can track from your smartphone.
Text alerts and remote notifications will be sent to your smartphone, should any danger be detected that triggers the alarm. You can use the app to review the current carbon monoxide levels in your home and customize nightlights, as well as all the usual features such as battery life, self-check results, and so on.
Voice alerts are also provided in the event of minor (and major) emergencies, helping you to identify danger zones, and take correct and appropriate action.
First Alert’s Onelink Safe and Sound smart smoke alarm also boasts its ability to connect to any other hardwired alarms in your home—including other branded devices. This will then allow notifications to be sent to your phone for any of these connected devices.
You might argue that a smart speaker function built into a smart smoke alarm is a trifle unnecessary, given the main purpose of a smoke detector. But for anyone who has yearned for this extra feature to be included—the search is over!
Compatible with either the TuyaSmart or Smart Life apps, this device will send you all the remote notifications you would wish it to—direct to your smartphone. Use the app to silence any unwanted alarm sounds too.
As with many other models, this Aegislink device will self-check itself regularly to ensure it is functioning as it should. Sensors, electronics, and battery life will be tested approximately every 60 seconds as a failsafe.
Designed with advanced photoelectric technology, it has the ability to detect any kind of smoldering fire in a matter of seconds and will alert you instantly upon detection. Aegislink advises that one of these devices can effectively cover an area of 215-430 square feet—which gives you a good indication of whether one or more would be required for your own home.
Relatively simple to install and with all important functions of a smart smoke alarm present, the Aegislink smart fire and smoke alarm is well worth considering for anybody concerned with keeping safe, but for a reasonable cost.
You may already have smoke alarms already installed throughout your home and may not wish to spend valuable time and currency on replacing them all.
However, if this is you, you may also wish to consider the Ring Alarm smoke and CO listener instead—as it effectively gives you access to some of the functionality associated with smart smoke alarms, without the need to drastically change the setup in your home.
This device sits alongside your existing smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector and will alert you via your smartphone in the event that the alarm is triggered.
It cannot detect smoke or rising CO levels itself, but will ‘listen’ to any alarm it is installed next to.
The obvious problem with this device is that its effectiveness depends entirely on the maintenance and upkeep of the already installed alarms. If they are defective in any way, then the Ring listener cannot do its job properly.
Nevertheless, you may feel that this is a more cost-effective solution to boosting your home security without breaking the bank.
Q: Are Smoke Alarms Worth It?
Buying a smoke alarm is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your home, your life, and the lives of your family and friends. It can give you early warning of a fire before it spreads, and the best chance of getting everyone safely out of the house.
Q: How Many Smart Smoke Detectors Do I Need?
Fire detectors should also be installed inside every bedroom and outside of each sleeping area. For example, a two-storey home with three bedrooms should have at least seven smoke alarms.
Homes that have a set number of hardwired alarms can still place additional battery-operated smoke alarms throughout the house.
