In our most recent IoT Podcast, Duncan called in to the voicemail hotline with a question about smart smoke detectors. He’s wondering which connected detectors we would recommend. To be honest, this is an easy question. That’s mainly because there are fewer choices when it comes to smart smoke detectors compared to bulbs, switches, locks, and cameras for the smart home.
We don’t think you can wrong with any of the limited options here. So we’ll highlight the choices and offer some decision considerations to make the best investment.
First Alert has offered smart smoke detectors for several years and it has different models depending on the features you want. The First Alert OneLink smoke and C02 detector, available in both battery and wired options, is a good basic choice. These both retail for around $140 directly but I’ve seen them on sale for as little as $115 each at big-box hardware stores, as well as at Target.
The First Alert OneLink Safe & Sound also monitors for both smoke and carbon monoxide, but includes a built-in speaker and Amazon Alexa “inside”. You can also use this to enable scenes and routines with Apple HomeKit devices. Of course, you’ll pay more for these bells and whistles. Direct retail pricing is $240 per unit, although again you can sometimes find this detector elsewhere for around $30 less.
For Google Home users, the obvious choice is the $119 Nest Protect. It too has dual detection monitors for smoke and carbon monoxide but only and comes in a battery-powered or hard-wired version..You don’t get speakers or a digital assistant, however, it does have a useful light ring. When it’s time to change the batteries, you’ll see the ring turn red. And when you walk under the Nest Protect at night, the light illuminates your pathway automatically.
Update: At CES 2022, Kidde announced its new Smoke + Carbon Monoxide smart detector. It costs just under $90 and supports voice commands to both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Folks in Europe have a few other options not found in the U.S. One standout is the Bosch smart smoke alarm that integrates with its smart security system and HomeKit (with an additional controller) for around 70 GBP, And Netatmo offers a dual-radio smoke detector for slightly less money. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, this detector works with HomeKit as well.
We’re not familiar with the X-Sense brand of smoke detectors, but we mention them only because they’re relatively inexpensive. For under $40 each, you can outfit your home with these. They’re not “smart” in the traditional sense (there’s no smart home integration, although they run on the Tuya platform) but they are connected via Wi-Fi radios. This sends alerts to your phone and also lets multiple detectors work as a connected system.
Keep in mind that Amazon Echo devices have a free “Guard Mode” option that listens for the sounds of your existing smoke detectors. When it hears those alerts, the Echo will notify you on your Alexa phone app. Google’s Nest Aware subscription plan offers a similar feature for its smart speakers. These may not be ideal options but they are inexpensive choices if you already have smart speakers in your home.
To hear Duncan’s question, as well as our discussion in full, tune in to the IoT Podcast below.
Updated at 10am CST on January 4, 2022 to add new Kidde option and to correct Nest Protect/First Alert information on carbon monoxide.
Any smoke/fire detector without 24x7x365 professional monitoring and dispatch is pointless.
Professional monitoring is better for most people, but regular dumb smoke alarms have saved thousands of lives by waking up people who are asleep when a fire starts in their home. That’s still worth something.
So the question then is what positives do smart alarms add and how valuable are they?
One of the most popular features is probably turning on lights automatically when the smoke alarm alerts. It’s a small thing, and it won’t help in all situations, but it can help. If the normal first thing you do when hearing a smoke alarm is to turn on the light, even saving those few seconds can be a benefit.
An even more useful feature is an alarm smart enough to tell you when another alarm in the house is going off and where it’s located. Knowing that the fire is in the basement versus in the Guest bedroom is helpful and important information. Again, this is for the situation where people are at home when the fire starts.
Some people want a smoke alert to also unlock their doors so that first responders can get in more quickly. That may not be true for every family, but it’s nice to have the option.
So it’s not an all or nothing situation. Having a professionally monitored system that can dispatch first responders is great. But there are a lot of other features that can still be of benefit without the professional monitoring, and just waking up people sleeping in the home can save lives before the first responders even get there.
Of course dumb ones work well also – as do monitored “semi-dumb” ones. The concept of a “smart” smoke or fire alarm that only texts the owner? That’s dumb. Our professionally installed and monitored smoke and fire alarms will also tell me which alarm went off, and of course will automatically activate the other audible and light alarms on other floors.
I agree with your summary though: if you can’t get a professionally monitored system, at least put “dumb” ones in and test them regularly. Same with CO alarms. I just can’t buy into the incremental value of a “smart” notification without also dispatching first responders, unless you never leave the house. I’m out of mobile/data range a good part of the time – and that’s a good thing!
Cheers, and thanks for your insights.
Cheers.
Good point: you do have to wonder what the value of just a notification is if you are away from home.
I do have one friend with that setup who has a dog and an automated sliding door, and in the event they were notified of a fire, their intention is to open the sliding door so the dog can get out, turn on the lights, unlock the doors, and call 911 themselves. I don’t know that it’s that much better than just having dumb alarms, but it’s probably a little better.
Correction about the nest protect smoke detectors. They do not only come battery powered. I have several I purchased last year, that are hard wired into my house wires where the previous builder installed detectors were.
The cost, at least in Canada is the same for a wired and battery versions at $150 CAD… about $115 USD for conversion.
The Nest Protect comes as either battery or wired, but the wired version has 3 batteries (vs 6 in the “battery” version), I’m assuing as backup for power outages. Love the “night light” feature on the nest protects – perfect light level to not trip on the way to the bathroom at 3AM.
I haven’t dug into it and set it up in my house yet. We can indirectly have smart smoke detectors by using Wyze camera’s smoke and CO detection. Supposedly it hears the beeps/alarms from regular smoke detectors and can alert us.