Ordinary smoke alarms will only do one thing
Defending against fire is a chief concern for homeowners, and smoke detectors play an essential role in shielding your family. However, smoke detectors have their limitations. For example, they can only react to smoke, not extreme temperatures. When there is a blaze starting in your residence, you would not be warned before the smoke rises to the smoke detector. While there are additional telltale signals of fire -- including a sudden rise in heat -- if there’s a lack of smoke, there is no triggered smoke detector.
What’s more, smoke detectors only sound the alarm when they encounter enough smoke. In the event a fire starts small, you may not be warned until the flames are out of control. Some smoke detectors employ more than one sensor, meaning they will be able to perceive smoke from both a raging fire and smoldering remnants. If they do go off, it’s required of the occupant to notify first responders after they safely leave the residence.