Best Smoke Detectors

The Kidde KN-COSM-BA is a sophisticated device that does more than most smoke detectors but without raising the price as much as you would expect from its high-end disposition. First and foremost, what separates this device is that we're basically working with two units fitted inside one body, with one acting as a smoke alarm and the second unit detecting carbon monoxide. As you can imagine, this is not just a more convenient approach but also the one that does not interfere with the room's aesthetics.

Still, the best part might just be not that this device can detect both threats but that the voice alarm will announce the hazard type, making sure that you have the correct reaction to the hazard detected. The alarm shouts 'fire' when there's a smoke and/or fire hazard and 'warning, carbon monoxide' when the hazard has to do with CO.

Of course, as much as we appreciate voice alarms, we can also appreciate that they're not replacing flashing alarm indicators that smoke detectors are usually working with. When the issue is smoke= or fire-related, this device starts flashing red, accompanying the LED light with three long beeps and the aforementioned verbal warning. This pattern will repeat 'till the hazard's eliminated. The approach's the same when the issue has to do with carbon monoxide. When there are no issues, the model will be flashing green, except, you know, with less intensity.

The Vitowell 420RCS3PACK, in case the confusing name does not give that away, is packing three smoke detectors. They're compact and lightweight devices that you can install practically anywhere, making them portable too. Considering that you're paying less than 30 bucks here, we're not surprised that the plastic housing on these smoke detectors feels flimsy. But, apart from the housing, nothing gives away the detectors' budget disposition. No, the mounting brackets that come with them enable easy installation, hence the whole portable part.

Where the environmental requirements are concerned, this package is not trailing behind its more expensive competition. To elaborate, the detectors work with temperatures ranging between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit and with humidity levels between 10- and 90-percent relative humidity. They're utilizing photoelectric sensors, which usually takes less time to detect a threat than ionization alarms.

Generally speaking, these detectors start with the test button, not the most important part but the one that they're seldom complete without nowadays. Needless to say, this button will let you test the alarm, something that we always recommend doing initially as well as every month or so. Once the red LED light has flashed for 30 seconds straight, you can rest assured knowing that the alarm's running normally.

The Kidde i9010 is not quite as impressive as the company's previous unit but the model has its moments as well. To begin with, this device automatically activates the moment you attach it to the mounting bracket, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to activate the alarm. Pull-tabs, switches, this model ditches them all, everything's automatic here. Also, when the bracket's attached, the unit comes tamper-resistant, preventing battery or alarm removal so that you can relax knowing that unauthorized entry will not be quite as easily possible. Plus, the sealed construction prevents theft, accommodating high-density dwellings.

More often than not, ionization sensors are not as accurate or fast-acting as photoelectric sensors. The opposite's the case this time around though. In fact, the biggest problem we have with this device is that it is too sensitive, meaning that the alarm might occasionally sound due to shower steam or you cooking something juicy. Still, we'll take an occasional false alarm over a detector missing an actual hazard any day of the week. What we'll also take is the company's End of Life Warning feature that will chirp an alarm every ~40 seconds, telling you that the battery should be replaced (usually happens 10+ years from the moment you activate the detector).

The Lecoolife 0804 is an affordable package yet, nevertheless, a thorough one. Considering that you're paying less than 9 bucks per detector here, it would make sense to expect something shoddy. But shoddy is the last word we would use to describe these detectors. No, made from heat-resistant ABS that easily withstands high temperatures, the units are tough and durable, so you can put them practically anywhere you want; bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, different, corridors, commercial spaces like hotels and restaurants, offices, you name the place.

Sure, they're not flawless but, from what we can tell, there are no major problems with the detectors' operation. The problems arise when you start replacing batteries, with the almost inaccessible battery compartment making the process a nightmare sometimes. But, again, operation-wise, we have no complaints.

Looking at the installation part, putting these detectors in place is a pretty easy challenge. Turn the unit (counterclockwise) and remove the bracket. Then, hold the bracket in the position that's specified in the instruction manual (in the Recommended Locations section), mark the holes with something (a pencil will do the trick), and drill them with a 5-mm (3/16-inch) drill bit. Tap the supplied plastic grommets into these holes, insert the battery, and you can mount the unit.

As always, before you start using the device, you can test the alarm with the test/reset button. When you're testing it, the sound pattern is short, flashing with 1.5-second intervals to let you know that the alarm's working but also that this is a drill and not an actual threat that the detector's displaying.

The Sobrovo GS528A is a photoelectric fire alarm, which are generally more sensitive than ionization alarms but this one was also optimized. Sharpening its sensors, the people behind this device have 'taught' its circuitry to detect slow smoldering fires that generate almost unnoticeable smoke and little heat, meaning that they usually spend hours smoldering before producing flames. The model has even passed the strict UL certification test, instilling confidence that its sensors will not miss the faintest threat.

Not unlike most smoke detectors, when the device senses combustion, an LED light starts flashing red in rapid succession (one flash every second). Besides rapid flashing, the model starts pulsating with an alarm that reaches 85 decibels at 10 feet, making sure that you cannot miss the siren. The alarm will stop once the smoke's gone (or the test button's released).

As sensitive as this device is though, smoke detectors start sounding an alarm only when they detect combustion or smoke, meaning that they cannot detect heat, flame, or gas (unless we're talking about those models that also detect carbon monoxide leaks, like the unit's that's leading this list). Needless to say, this is not the product's downside, this is just something that we can say about most detectors. Its downside is that the DC 9V battery that's shipped with the unit will not last as long as advertised, which means that the model burns through batteries with increased expediency, so to speak.