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| Will You Be Able to Hear It? |  The best test for smoke alarm is its ability to wake you up in the night. This usually means that the nearest to your bedroom alarm can be placed no further than in the next room with the intermediate door open.
Hard-wired alarms can be connected together with the wire so when one of them sets off, each of them goes off. Most modern alarms have this feature. It means that any alarm in your house will wake you up in your bedroom if the nearest alarm is loud enough to do it.
If your alarm is battery-powered, consider the models containing a radio transmitter that will activate a receiver that can be installed in bedroom. This model has an advantage that, when you are extended away from home, you can give the receiver to your neighbors who could call the fire station in case a fire starts. These alarms are much more expensive than the simple ones, but the options they provide are worth it.
Almost all battery-powered and hard-wired smoke alarms use a high-pitched electronic horn which is difficult to hear. Test the alarm before installation to check if all members of the family hear it distinctly.
People with hearing problems can install smoke alarms that provide flashing lights or vibrating signals in case of a fire. To wake you up, the alarm should be placed over the head of the bed and should be rated at least 110 candles. The lights should be powered from house electricity, so if the alarm works on batteries, it will probably be not bright enough to be used in bedroom.
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