The 8 Best Smart Smoke Detectors For Your Home

You already know smoke detectors are essential for keeping you and your family safe in your home, so it’s no surprise that the smart smoke detector is now a thing. Just like any smart home devices, the best smart smoke detectors are a vital component for making your home as safe as it can be. Regardless of the type of smart home setup you use, these detectors will announce the location of the problem and send information directly to your phone. For unparalleled safety and supreme convenience, no 21st century home should be without it, especially if you’ve still not mastered the toaster settings.

The Best Smart Smoke Detector For Your Home

First Alert Talking Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (BEST CHOICE)

Our top pick for the best smart smoke detectors is the impressive and dependable First Alert Talking Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm. It comes in a variety of pack sizes so it’s suitable for both small properties and larger ones to ensure total protection on all floors and in all rooms for peace of mind.

There are 11 pre-programmed locations already setup, and this will let you know where, exactly, the source of the issue is. This provides excellent safety measures and will guarantee you can deal with it, or get out of the house, as quickly as possible. You can choose between Voice Location models or the simple battery-powered option, depending on your budget.

It senses both smoke and CO presence and uses precise electrochemical technology to give you accurate readings and alerts. It is easy to use, and as a battery-powered option, it’s easy to install without the need to access the main electrical system. The battery is also long-lasting to give you peace of mind, and when it runs out, it’s easy to change out with the EZ-access battery drawer.

For more amazing devices like this, check out our guide to the best lightning detectors.

Google Nest Protect

Popular for many people because of the sheer scope of its features and what it can add to your home, the Google Nest Protect is an excellent choice, especially if you’re all aboard the Google train with no intention of climbing off anytime soon.

It comes with both phone alerts and location information, while the fast-detecting systems will add further layers of protection to your home and ensure you stay safer than ever before. The split spectrum sensors are also useful, and they search for a range of fires, from fast-acting to slow-burning so that you’re never caught off guard.

It is available as both battery or wired options depending on your preferences or requirements, and both options ensure long-lasting sensors, which can operate sufficiently for up to 10 years, and by then, there’s sure to be yet another advancement in the smart home smoke detector technology. You’ll also get a built-in night light that can help to guide the way should a fire start in the middle of the night.

Alert Plus Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector

The Alert Plus Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector is another great option to choose, and it stands out against other picks with a clear and easy-to-read digital LCD display. This is useful for several reasons. The backlight helps you find the detector at any time, even in the dark, while the digits show both PPM, the level of carbon monoxide in the air, as well as the time depending on which setting you choose.

Aside from this, it delivers an effective 85-decibel siren when it detects anything that shouldn’t be in the house and comes with a 5-year warranty to give you peace of mind that it’s built well enough to keep you and your family safe. For further confidence, the auto-detection sensor failure will prevent missed instances and dangers.

Batteries come included, so while it’s not hard-wired to the main system, you can still set it up with ease. The human voice prompting allows versatile control methods, as does the alarm memory function. So, while it’s not technically a full smoke detector, it will still be an excellent addition to your home.

Our guide to the best outdoor sensor lights features more useful additions to your home. Check them out.

X-Sense Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

The X-Sense Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector is one of the most affordable options around and provides a reliable 10-year battery as well as a 10-year sensor to provide dependable long-lasting performance for the home.

It’s also one of the best-looking options around, toeing the liner perfectly between the traditional smoke detector style, while also bringing the smart modernity to the table, or should we say ceiling. Its practical LCD display is the centerpiece of this, and this indicates real-time CO levels, while the LED warning, light cycles between different levels, including Green for ON and Red for ALARM, so this is easy to identify if you’re in a hurry.

There are both Test and Silence buttons, which are useful for checking that it still works as well as when it goes off if you accidentally burn your dinner, and at 85 decibels, you’re sure to hear it from the other side of the house. As a battery-powered option, it also ensures easy installation that you can carry out in minutes.

First Alert Alexa Enabled Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm (PREMIUM CHOICE)

Our premium choice out of all smart smoke detectors is the plentiful, feature-filled, and extravagant (in a good way) First Alert Alexa Enabled Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector Alarm. This option is compatible with both Alexa and Apple HomeKit, meaning that no matter your allegiance, it will function seamlessly in your home without issue.

It comes with user-friendly mobile controls, which is perfect for those of you who aren’t all that tech-savvy, although anyone who knows their way around a user interface and operating system will be able to find all the clever intricacies that take this to the next level. Through this mobile operation, it sends notifications to alert you of any potential problems. If you know these are nothing to worry about, you can mute them if needed, so it doesn’t ring out at the wrong time.

It’s also much more than a mere smoke/CO detector, though. The built-in speakers double as music, podcast, or audiobook speakers, so you can enjoy your favorite tunes throughout the house, although you might get confused if you listen to any songs with sirens. To keep it fully operational, there are also battery replacement alerts so you’re never caught out, too.

Ring Smoke Alarm and CO Listener

The Ring Smoke Alarm and CO Listener is another excellent choice, especially if you’ve already got a Ring setup in your home, whether as a smart home system or for security reasons. It delivers smartphone alerts directly to your phone to keep you up to date on the current situation, and it doesn’t take long to install at all, especially as its so lightweight and compact. This also means it won’t look out of place on your ceiling.

It works with UL listed smoke and CO detectors, and while it’s not a proper detector itself, just a Listener as the name suggests, it can still become an integral part of your home setup to guarantee safety for the whole family. The 3-year battery life is modest but should do a decent enough job as long as you stay on top of things, while the 1-year warranty can add further protection.

There is optional 24/7 monitoring, although this costs a subscription fee. Despite this, if you’re already a loyal user of Ring products, this could easily be the final piece of the puzzle and ensures that no matter what occurs in or around your home, you can guarantee total protection from threats both human, animal, and elemental.

Samsung SmartThings ADT Smoke Alarm (BEST VALUE)

Our final pick for the best smart smoke detectors is also our Best Value choice. The Samsung SmartThings ADT Smoke Alarm allows you to automate connected devices for total control, and it also gives you the option to set lights for different instances, that will send alerts straight to your devices to ensure you charge into action without delay.

Again, there is an optional monitoring system, this time being an ADT Professional setup that ensures complete home security. It activates with extreme heat and temperatures, which is more than enough to keep you alert to smoke or fire.

Batteries come included in the pack, and these should last you long enough that you don’t need to worry about them too frequently. Furthermore, the mounting hardware is included, allowing you to install it as soon as it arrives at your door. As we all know how accidents and disasters can strike at any time if you’re not careful, this ensures you and your family are readily protected with no downtime, so you can sleep soundly once you put your head down for the night. Hopefully, you never need to use it, but having it there will ensure confidence and comfort.

First Alert OneLink Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector

The First Alert OneLink Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector is available as both battery or hard-wired options that ensure easy installation regardless of your preferred setup. Once hooked up, you can connect it to your Alexa smart home system as well as home security products to ensure total protection from both smoke and carbon monoxide and provide you the peace of mind that your family will remain safe.

Once synchronized with these, you will receive both smartphone and voice alerts that will inform you if something is not right so you can take action immediately whether you are at home or not. Unlike traditional smoke alarms, you will also find that this minimizes the risk of false alarms to prevent frustration and annoyance when you’re just trying to fry an egg, making your home a more pleasant place to be.

Should an emergency really occur, the 85-decibel siren will alert you immediately and allow you to take action. Whether it’s merely the toaster left on too long or something more serious, you can take the necessary steps to protect your family and any other precious artifacts within the home with ease and confidence.

Buying Guide & FAQ

Features To Look For In Smart Smoke Detectors

Before deciding which of the smart smoke detectors are the right ones for you, check out these key features and frequently asked questions to give you the best idea of what to look for.

Smart Home Hub Support

Smoke detectors for smart homes should be compatible with all smart home hubs to ensure universal operation regardless of your preferred operation. While this is generally the case, some smoke detectors may not be compatible with specific systems, so it’s always worth looking this up prior to ordering.

Still, as most smart smoke detectors provide seamless connectivity and support across all smart home hubs, you can enjoy the peace of mind you need to live comfortably in your home and be safe from accidental fires.

The smart home hub support will allow you to operate the system from the main page of the app, allowing you to adjust settings, temporarily switch the system off, or mute the alarm when making dinner so as not to disturb the neighbors. You will find different features across different products, so look for the options that appeal most to you to help you decide on the right smart smoke detector.

Multiple Users

The more people who are alerted of any dangers in the house, whether because of smoke or fire, the more safe you will all feel. While some apps and systems will only alert a single person, usually the account owner, this could be a problem if they are away or if they don’t have their phone on their person at all times.

By investing in a smart smoke detector solution that allows multiple users, you can ensure better safety for you and your family. This is usually done through an invitation system and is useful for larger homes or those who travel for work and are therefore not always in the house should a problem occur.

Detector Sensitivity and Accuracy

Smoke detectors that are too sensitive can be a nightmare to live with. Likewise, those which are not sensitive enough will be downright hazardous and dangerous for you and your family. You need to find a smoke detector that provides the perfect sensitivity balance so that it will react when detecting extreme heat, but when you slightly overdo your bacon on a lazy Sunday morning.

Similarly, the accuracy is a large factor to consider, and as a smart smoke detector, you can expect that it will identify the location of where the fire is coming from. The science of just how it would take us too long to explain, although if you have multiple smoke alarms in the house, it will direct you to the one closest to the issue.

This accuracy allows you to deal with the problem as quickly as possible, whether that involves vacating your home or putting out the fire yourself, depending on the severity of it. You will also feel safer, as you’ll know which parts of the house to avoid should the fire be too much for you to handle.

Smoke and CO

Any modern smoke detector should also have a CO function to recognize carbon monoxide, which could occur with a gas leak in the home and can have serious ramifications on your health, including headaches, dizziness, and confusion, as well as memory loss.

The combination of both smoke and CO detection will provide well-rounded protection levels, ensuring your family is safe from a range of potential threats that could occur within the home. These smart smoke detectors use strong electrochemical components to identify certain dangers, which will be invaluable for guaranteeing family safety.

If you live alone, it is also essential, as there will be less chance of someone else noticing a problem and it could very easily save your life.

Smart Smoke Detectors FAQ

What is a Smart Smoke Detector?

A smart smoke detector is a device to install in your home that will alert you and your family when the temperature rises too high, or indeed it recognizes the presence of fire or smoke. This means it works just like a regular smoke detector. However, as a smart product, it also comes with an array of features that bring it firmly into the 21st century.

Just like other smart products, including Smart Alarms, Smart Speakers, and Smart Homes in general, smart smoke detectors will connect to your wifi and allow you to operate everything from your phone or computer. Through this, you can change settings, control alerts, and disable features during certain moments, such as when you’re cooking dinner or making a toast at 2 AM.

Other than this, smart smoke detectors will generally work exactly the same as a standard smoke or carbon monoxide detector, but the convenience is always something to consider when you’re searching for new ways to upgrade your home and keep it as on-trend as possible.

Are smart smoke detectors worth it?

The idea of smart detectors being worth it depends entirely on you. If you are someone who is striving to make their home as connected as possible, then they are worth it. Similarly, if you like to cook or have a large family, then the added safety measures that come from a smart smoke detector will also make them entirely worth it.

They are also worth the money if you live in a large house with plenty of different areas that could lead to a fire. As these smoke detectors will locate the source of the problem, you’re able to deal with it more efficiently rather than running around the house in a panic looking for

However, as smart smoke detectors can be an expensive option, especially if you already have a smoke and carbon monoxide detector at home, then it could be difficult to justify the expense. Furthermore, if you don’t have smart home devices, such as Alexa, then it may not be worth installing a smart detector just yet. If you’re getting on fine without smart home improvements, then you will only end up spending more as you adapt your home, even if some options are unnecessary.

Are hard-wired smoke detectors better?

Many people ask whether hard-wired smoke detectors are better than battery-powered ones. The truth is that yes, hard-wired smoke detectors are better. While battery-powered options are easier to install, these batteries will require replacing every so often. If you’re lax about this, you could put your family at risk, even though they are supposed to alert you when the battery is low.

Conversely, a hard-wired option is connected to the mains, meaning as long as there is electricity supplied to your house, you can always feel safe in your home. You will, however, need to switch off the main grid should you want to undertake any maintenance to prevent suffering an electric shock. Even though these types of smoke detectors will work primarily on the mains, most will also have a battery backup in case of a power outage.

Another reason hard-wired options are better is that they can work together with other smoke detectors in the house. Battery-powered options will only work independently of one another, meaning that even if one activates, others in the house won’t, which could put your family at risk if the fire is too far away.

Hard wired detectors, however, will automatically set off each model in the house, regardless of where the source of the fire is. This means that no matter where you are, you will hear the siren so you can leap into action quicker.

With this information, it’s easy to see how much more effective hard-wired smoke alarms are, even though they will require a little more effort and time dedicated to installing them. For excellent peace of mind and safety, you should consider a hard-wired smoke detector before a battery-powered one if possible.

Sources:

Carbon monoxide Levels that Sound the Alarm – Kidde

Hardwired vs. Battery Powered Smoke Alarms—Which Is For You? – RS Andrews

Carbon monoxide poisoning – NHS