What Type of Smoke Alarm Do You Have?
by
Andrea Fabry
Most homes are equipped with ionizing smoke alarms. Find out why the old-fashioned photoelectric smoke alarm may be a healthier choice!
To see what type of smoke alarm you have in your home check the label for americium 241. This denotes an ionizing type of alarm.
To see what type of smoke alarm you have in your home check the label for americium 241. This denotes an ionizing type of alarm.
Photoelectric smoke alarms are readily available online. If you have a wired ionizing alarm you will want to replace with a wired version of photoelectric. Instructions are provided below. Battery-operated photoelectric are simple to install.
As far as disposal, there are no clear guidelines from the EPA, except to say that “waste reduction and minimization” is encouraged. I took ours to the local fire station in a box.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to decisions like this. In fact, the decisions seem endless. I do the best with what I know and give myself time to process new information. For now, I’m glad we made the transition from ionizing to photoelectric smoke alarms.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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