Kidde RF-SM-DC – The Smoke Detector of Choice for Your Household. Every home in this country should be fitted with at least one smoke detector on every floor, although preferably more, covering a set number of square feet per device. This is a simple safety measure that can have a huge impact on the overall chances of escaping and surviving a fire. Fire spreads quickly and having an early warning system in place can quite literally make the difference between life and death. The problem, however, is that there are many different smoke alarms in the market, each with different features, functionalities, and pros and cons. Choosing the right one can be quite overwhelming. Here, we will take a look at the Kidde RF-SM-DC, one of the better-known brands of home safety devices. Click here for the Top 10 Best Smoke Detectors.
About the Kidde RF-SM-DC
This smoke alarm is a wireless device, meaning it works only on batteries. This comes with a number of benefits, including the fact that you don’t need to rewire your electrical system. It also means you can place it wherever you want in the home. Homes that are older and do not follow modern code are particularly suited to this type of alarm because they do not have the hard-wiring required by wired smoke alarms.
The Kidde RF-SM-DC is fitted with an ionization sensor. This type of sensor is designed to detect flaming fires, which are particularly fast burning. Unfortunately, they do not detect smoldering fires as well as others. Smoldering fires often burn for quite some time before they ignite, and it is at the point of ignition that the ionization sensor will most likely detect it. For smoldering fires, a photoelectric sensor is required. This is why the official recommendation is for homes to be fitted with both types of smoke alarms on all floors. Some detectors now have dual sensors, but there are no UL standards for this yet, so it is recommended to simply have two instead. Do also remember that an ionization sensor does also detect smoldering fires, just as a photoelectric sensor does detect flaming fires. However, they are slightly slower in that detection. In other words, you are never completely unprotected.
This Kidde smoke detector is battery operated but it does come with inter-connectivity, which is normally seen only on hardwired smoke detectors. This really sets this device apart. Being interconnected means that you can link various alarms across your home together. Should one alarm sound, all the others will sound as well. This greatly increases your safety level, as it means a fire that starts downstairs can be heard upstairs immediately. Without this connectivity, you may not immediately hear the alarm if the fire starts in a location that is quite far from where you are. You can connect a total of 24 devices together, 12 of which can be smoke detectors. This is perfect for large homes.
All the standard features you would expect of a good smoke alarm can be found on the Kidde RF-SM-DC. These include a warning light to tell you that the battery is running low, an audible chirp that sounds once per minute if the batteries are almost out, and a hush button for the alarm. However, it does not come with more advanced features, such as a voice alert that goes off at the same time as the alarm, a safety light that tells you the alarm is triggered, or a silencer that enables you to completely mute the low battery warning until you have replaced them. Nevertheless, this is offset by the fact that Kidde has a fantastic customer support system in place, something that they are known for. They have extensive FAQs on their website and the company can be reached for support both via email and telephone. The device also comes with a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty.
What I Liked About the Kidde RF-SM-DC
⦁ It is wireless, which means that it can be fitted to older properties and it can be fitted anywhere in your property.
⦁ Although a wireless device, it does feature inter-connectivity for up to 24 devices in total, 12 of which can be smoke detectors.
⦁ It comes with all the standard features that you would expect from a smoke detector.
⦁ Kidde is a known and trusted brand.
⦁ Customer support is exceptional.
What I Didn’t Like About the Kidde RF-SM-DC
⦁ The device has an ionization sensor only, which means it is only effective in detecting flaming fires. A photoelectric sensor should be added so that smoldering fires can also be detected.
⦁ It lacks some more advanced features that are commonly seen on other modern smoke detectors.
⦁ Because it is battery operated only, you do have to remember to regularly check whether the batteries are still operational. That said, the device does sound a warning when the batteries are running low.
The Final Verdict
Overall, the Kidde RF-SM-DC wireless detector is one of the best smoke detectors in the market, particularly considering that it is battery operated and yet it can be interconnected. This makes it almost unique in the market today. It also comes with fantastic customer support, so you know that, if you do have any questions, they will be answered straight away. The Kidde website features an extensive FAQ section for the more common questions, which is also a great resource.
The biggest disadvantage of this Kidde device is that it only detects flaming fires because it only has an ionization sensor. On the other hand, dual sensors do not yet have any standards of quality to meet, which means it is accepted to be better to have two devices installed, one with an ionization sensor for flaming fires such as this one, and one with a photoelectric sensor for smoldering fires.
When you purchase this Kidde smoke alarm, you will receive a highly convenient device that you can put up anywhere in your property because it is wireless. You can hook up as many as 24 Kidde devices in total to make sure your entire property is properly protected. That when added to its ease of use and the company’s fantastic customer support, the device is 100% recommended for the protection of the home.