The 2022 Best Smoke Detectors

It’s easy to ignore the smoke detectors in your home. After all, we only really think of them when their batteries are dying and they start to chirp, or if we burn something in or on the stove.

But your home’s smoke detectors shouldn’t be an afterthought. Ensuring you’ve got the best smoke detectors available and learning how to maintain them keeps your family safe and alerted if there’s an actual fire.

We recommend following these safety tips to ensure your smoke alarms are always in tip-top condition. And we asked a fire safety expert for his tips on choosing the right smoke detector in the first place.

What to Look for When Buying Smoke Detectors

First, there are multiple types of smoke detectors available. You can purchase hardwired smoke detectors, battery-powered ones, and even models that plug into a wall outlet.

While installing battery-powered or plug-in smoke detectors might be easier, Mark Dawson, chief operating officer of Mister Sparky recommends hardwired ones. “They rely on the battery only for power outages, which can help in case of an emergency,” he says. Further, he says plug-in options could be compromised if gas rises from the floor.

Also consider various features. Dawson says there are two types of detectors, ionization and photoelectric. Ionization detectors sense actual flames, while photoelectric detectors are more sensitive, going off if a fire is just smoldering.

Dawson recommends placing photoelectric detectors in the kitchen or living room and ionization detectors in bedrooms. You can also make use of dual sensor models, which detect smoke and open flames.

Dawson also recommends battery backup, as well as smart technology. Smart smoke detectors allow you to monitor your house through an app even when you’re not there, ensuring your family is always safe and secure.

Evaluation Criteria

When selecting the best smoke detectors, we considered connectivity benefits, types of detection systems and other basic features.