2 Reasons to Add Smoke and CO Detectors to Your Security System

Smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are neither new nor novel. We have had them for decades. But most people treat them as standalone devices that only make noise in the event of an emergency. It is better than nothing, but wouldn't it be better to incorporate smoke and CO detectors into an existing security system?

Vivint Smart Home is a nationwide provider of home automation and security equipment. They also offer around the clock monitoring services. Customers can include smoke and CO detectors in their packages. This begs the question of why a Vivint customer would not do so. But I am sure there are those who have chosen to maintain separate, standalone devices.

I can give you two reasons I would add smoke and CO detectors to my system as a Vivint customer:

1. Fire Injuries and Deaths Are Common

First and foremost is the reality that injuries and deaths related to residential fires are fairly common. According to data mentioned on the Safe Home website, a home fire injury occurs every 53 minutes in this country. One death occurs every 194 minutes. That amounts to 9,916 injuries and 2,709 deaths every single year.

Injuries and deaths resulting from residential fires are bad enough on their own. But when you consider the fact that most of them are the result of smoke inhalation rather than flames, things are even more disheartening.

The point of having a smoke detector is to alert you of smoke in your home. You want to be alerted before you are overcome, thereby giving you a chance to escape. So even a standalone smoke detector is valuable. But one connected to a monitored home security system is more so, because it means a professional monitoring company keeping an eye on your home as well. While you are sleeping, they are still on the job.

The Same Goes for CO Detectors

Incidentally, much of what is true about smoke detectors also applies to CO detectors. A CO detector's main purpose is to warn occupants that a home exhibits dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The early warning gives occupants time to get out.

Incidentally, CO is often called a stealth killer because it cannot be seen or smelled. It is very easy to be overcome by CO without knowing what's going on. For me, there is no question about CO detectors being monitored along with the rest of my security equipment.

2. Alarms Improve Survival Rates

Smoke detectors and their built-in alarms improve survival rates among fire victims. By how much? According to Safe Home, standalone smoke detectors that only make noise increase survivability by 30%. Hard-wired smoke detectors with battery backups increase survivability by 71%.

Now, imagine the benefits of including smoke detectors in a monitored home security package. The added benefit of professionals keeping tabs on things only adds to your survivability chances. The more people involved in warning you to get out, the more opportunity you need to do just that.

It Just Makes Sense

The best way to wrap all of this up is to say that including smoke and CO detectors in a monitored security package just makes sense. Even without monitored home security, smoke and CO detectors save lives. Including them in a monitored system just makes them that much more effective.

If you have a home security system installed, are your smoke and CO detectors connected to it? If not, perhaps it is time to reconsider your security strategy. What is there to lose by integrating them?

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