The Wirecutter article also recommends photoelectric smoke detectors, but they also say that having both is good. They discuss a lot of other considerations. They also recommend a combination...
The Wirecutter article also recommends photoelectric smoke detectors, but they also say that having both is good. They discuss a lot of other considerations.
They also recommend a combination smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. However, the EPA recommends placing carbon monoxide detectors at around 5 feet, so maybe it would better to have a separate one?
One problem with this sort of article is that they tend to make strong claims but rarely mention sources for their information, so it's hard to say whether the scientific claims hold up. And these claims get copied all over the place.
When replacing the expired detectors in my house I did some reading and recall that each style had a benefit for different types of fires, fast spreading vs smoldering fires. I found some...
When replacing the expired detectors in my house I did some reading and recall that each style had a benefit for different types of fires, fast spreading vs smoldering fires. I found some dual-sensor detectors that had both photo & ionizing sensors, as well as some that had smoke & CO sensors. Since mine are all wired together I decided to put both styles to get the best of both.
For example, this one has both photo & ionizing detectors in one unit (just my first search result, not an endorsement of this particular detector):
Ionization alarms have about a 55% failure rate to save people in home fires. Can you believe that? I think this is crazy and horrible. Part of this dismal number is the failure of these alarms to sound off, and the other part is because people disable their alarms because of nuisance tripping.
On the other hand, photoelectric smoke alarms have a 96% success rate! So which one do you want in your home?
The Wirecutter article also recommends photoelectric smoke detectors, but they also say that having both is good. They discuss a lot of other considerations.
They also recommend a combination smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. However, the EPA recommends placing carbon monoxide detectors at around 5 feet, so maybe it would better to have a separate one?
One problem with this sort of article is that they tend to make strong claims but rarely mention sources for their information, so it's hard to say whether the scientific claims hold up. And these claims get copied all over the place.
When replacing the expired detectors in my house I did some reading and recall that each style had a benefit for different types of fires, fast spreading vs smoldering fires. I found some dual-sensor detectors that had both photo & ionizing sensors, as well as some that had smoke & CO sensors. Since mine are all wired together I decided to put both styles to get the best of both.
For example, this one has both photo & ionizing detectors in one unit (just my first search result, not an endorsement of this particular detector):
https://www.firstalert.com/smoke-carbon-monoxide-alarms/smoke-alarms/hardwire-dual-photoelectric-and-ionization-sensor-smoke-alarm-with-battery-backup/SAP_3120B.html
Key point, emphasis mine:
I wonder where these numbers come from?