Smoke alarm with remote sensor?

[Jeffksf]

So I ordered some new smoke alarms for my house and got to thinking what about my detached garage? Do they make a smoke alarm with a remote sensor so if something started cooking in my detached garage the alarm would go off in the house? What would my options be otherwise?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Kidde makes a wireless smoke detector that may work, but I don't know what it's range is. http://www.kidde.com/KiddeWireless/Pages/KiddeWirelessProductDescriptions.aspx . However, smoke detectors are generally not recommended for use in garages, since they can be fooled by dust or exhaust smoke - typically, a rate of temperature change sensor is used instead; it detects a rapid change in the room temperature when there's a fire.

 

[6768rogues]

Check the listing on any smoke detectors you consider. Ionization (most common residential) do not work well in cold temps and the listing will have a temperature range. You might be able to use a photoelectric smoke detector, but check the temp tolerance. Dirt and dust could be problematic. As Stuart said, you might need a rate of rise detector. Bear in mind that a rate of rise detector is a heat detector and not a smoke detector. It is a lot better than nothing, but is not considered to be a life safety device.

 

[Jeffksf]

THats ok, nothing I care about is living in the garage, I should say no living things are in the garage that I care about, but a couple inanimate things are in there that I care about

 

[Big Bad Dad]

If the garage is close enough to the house, how about a baby monitor to listen for the smoke detector?

 

[artrem]

Kidde makes a wireless smoke detector that may work, but I don't know what it's range is. http://www.kidde.com/KiddeWireless/Pages/KiddeWirelessProductDescriptions.aspx . However, smoke detectors are generally not recommended for use in garages, since they can be fooled by dust or exhaust smoke - typically, a rate of temperature change sensor is used instead; it detects a rapid change in the room temperature when there's a fire.

We have these Kidde wireless detectors in our house and they work great. I bought one for the garage but then I read as stated above, that they can be triggered by exhaust. Since we have a wireless security system, I was able to have a thermal rate of rise sensor wirelessly tied into that system.

 

[jonathan75]

I use a wireless heat and smoke detector connected to my alarm system. If it detects something it will call for help and let me know at the same time.

http://www.security.honeywell.com/h...-systems/life-safety/wireless-smoke-detector/

 

[bygasper]

My smoke detectors are wired into my alarm system in two of my buildings. I get notified of any reason the "alarm system" is triggered. This includes smoke detectors going off (doesn't actually set off the alarm). I travel for a living...I'll get a call anywhere that I have cell signal.

 

[Jeffksf]

No alarm system here...

 

[Ray Kelly]

Some people will have their man caves hooked up to their ADT systems. That really works out well.

 

[Jeffksf]

Also do you know about the dual sensor smoke alarms? My fire chief informed me about them. They result in far less false alarms due to cooking etc. I had never heard of them. Smoke alarms also wear out like any appliance and they should be replaced periodically.