Types of Heat Detectors

Heat detectors are important devices to have around the home, because they can detect early signs of fires and warn residents to vacate the premises before people are trapped, injured or killed. Not every detector is the same, however, and it's important to know which kind will ensure your safety.

Fixed Heat Detectors

• Fixed heat detectors monitor a room and will sound the alarm only when the temperature has reached a critical level, normally 115 degrees to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. These heat detectors often employ a metal alloy that melts at the specified temperature. The melted alloy then acts as a fuse that activates the alarm. Once this type of heat detector is activated, it must then be replaced.

Pneumatic Heat Detectors

• Pneumatic heat detectors use a tube that detects abnormal temperature changes along its length. These types of heat detectors are often used around engines, turbines and boilers, or large vehicles such as boats, planes and trains.

Rate-of-Rise Heat Detectors

• Rate-of-rise heat detectors are designed to detect abrupt changes in area temperatures, and can be programmed to detect slow-and-steady rises in temperature along with sudden ones. Be careful where you position a rate-of-rise heat detector, though, since putting one by a door or oven can cause false alarms in the right circumstances. These detectors can be automatically reset, though, after the alarm has gone off. Some heat detectors combine fixed and rate-of-rise detection methods, though these can be more expensive.

Extra Services

• Heat detectors can also be installed as a component of a larger security system in a house. Regular heat detectors simply alert anyone in the area when it detects a potential fire, giving people the chance to escape injury, but some heat detectors can also send an automated signal to local fire departments, letting them respond to the emergency situation. This service, however, sometimes requires a paid subscription with a third-party company.