---
title: "What Is Smoke alarm? Electrical Glossary | Daniel Electric"
description: "A smoke alarm is a device that senses smoke and sounds a loud alarm so people in a home can get out. Plain-English glossary from Daniel Electric in Southlake, TX."
url: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/smoke-alarm
publisher: Daniel Electric
phone: +1-817-481-8606
quote: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/contact
---

Safety devices

# Smoke alarm

A smoke alarm is a device that senses smoke and sounds a loud alarm so people in a home can get out.

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that every home and place where people sleep have both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or dual-sensor alarms that contain both. Test alarms monthly, replace batteries as needed and replace the whole alarm on the maker's schedule.

Choose [interconnected alarms](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/interconnected-alarms) so that when one sounds, all sound. A [hardwired smoke alarm](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/hardwired-smoke-alarm) runs on house power with a battery backup. Pair smoke alarms with a [carbon monoxide detector](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/carbon-monoxide-detector). See [smoke and CO detector installation](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/smoke-and-co-detector-installation).

[Daniel Electric can helpSmoke and CO detector installation](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/smoke-and-co-detector-installation)

## Related terms

-   [Interconnected alarms](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/interconnected-alarms)
-   [Hardwired smoke alarm](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/hardwired-smoke-alarm)
-   [Carbon monoxide detector](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/carbon-monoxide-detector)

## Sources

1.  [U.S. Fire Administration: Smoke Alarms](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/smoke-alarms/)
2.  [U.S. Fire Administration: Smoke Alarms](https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/smoke-alarms/)

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