Fires can start unexpectedly, whether from faulty wiring, unattended candles, cooking mishaps, or heating equipment failures. Smoke alarms are critical life-saving devices that detect fires before they become uncontrollable. Theyprovide early warning during fires and give occupants precious time to evacuate.As per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having properly installed and functioning smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a house fire by more than half.
People should place smoke alarms inside every bedroom and living areas. In case of multi-storied house, there should be at least one alarm on every floor. In kitchens, install smoke alarms at least 10 feet away from cooking appliances to prevent false alarms. Avoid placing alarms near windows, doors, or ducts and always mount them high on walls or ceilings to keep them effective.
While smoke alarms have been standard in homes for decades, CO (Carbon Monoxide) detectors gained popularity more recently, especially in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. Many modern devices now combine smoke and CO detection in a single unit.
We recently came across one such unit that detects both smoke and carbon monoxide. It is the Siterwell Wireless Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm. This is an interesting unit for three reasons: it is battery operated, it can detect both smoke and CO, and you have the provision to interconnect multiple units wirelessly.
This is the review of the Siterwell Wireless Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm. Continue reading if you are looking for a smoke alarmthat provides hassle free installation and ability to sync two or more devices.
There is a hardwired model that comes with user replaceable backup batteries. But for this review, we will be focusing on the wireless model with built-in battery.
Before looking at the contents, here is a brief note about the manufacturer, Siterwell. Established in 2010, Siterwell specializes in sensor alarms, IoT security solutions, and smart home products. Their primary product range includes smoke, carbon monoxide, gas, heat, and water level alarms.Siterwell has certifications meeting European, American, and Australian standards.
Coming back to the unboxing, since this is a battery-operated model, the contents are very minimal. We get the main smoke/CO combo sensor unit, a mounting bracket (plate), mounting hardware (screws and anchors), and some paper work (instructions and warnings).
If you are familiar with smoke alarms in general, the overall design language of the Siterwell Wireless Combo Alarm follows a well-known pattern.The alarm has a sleek, modern design that blends well with most home interiors. It is compact, lightweight and it is easy to install on walls or ceilings.
The front of the unit has inlets/outlets for smoke and CO to enter as well as the alarm. There is a single big button in the middle that has multiple functions.Surrounding the button, there is a multi-colored indicator LED.
One the rear, there is nothing worth noting except the mounting holes and clips as this has a built-in battery i.e., no wires.
The mounting plate is key to activating/deactivating the smoke alarm as it has a couple of clips that sort of push the notches on the main unit. For installation, all we have to do is mount the backplate on a wall or ceiling with the provides screws (and drywall anchors, if necessary) and twist the unit on to the plate to lock it.
Let us start with the quality of the plastic. As this a smoke alarm, we expect the unit to withstand a significant amount of heat. Unsurprisingly, the Siterwell Wireless Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarmis flame retardant certified (UL94 V-0).
The Siterwell Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm uses photoelectric sensors, which are excellent for detecting slow-burning, smoldering fires (such as those caused by electrical faults or overheating appliances). These sensors are less prone to false alarms from cooking smoke compared to ionization alarms.
As per Siterwell’s testing, the combination of photoelectric smoke sensor and a 360 smoke-capturing technology, this alarm can detect smoke 15s faster than UL9 Standard requirements. The accuracy of the alarm is also very high (about 99.96%).
While smoke is much more prevalent in case of fires, there is a risk of release of carbon monoxide in homes if you park your vehicle close to the house (or if the house comes with an attached garage). In such cases, having Carbon Monoxide detector is extremely important as Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas.
Thankfully, the Siterwell Combo Alarm is equipped with an electrochemical CO sensor that precisely detects dangerous carbon monoxide levels.
Like most modern things nowadays, even the Siterwell Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm uses AI to monitor the smoke and CO levels inside the house. They even monitor the amount of dust and other pollutants. The AI helps the alarm in learning different patterns and effectively reduce false alarms.
When it detects smoke, the alarm will make three long beeps in a repeating manner. The alarm is very loud at 85dBA when you are about 10feet (3 meters) from the unit.Additionally, it produces voice message saying “Fire” in both English and French.
That’s right. The Siterwell Combo Alarm has dual-language voice alerts. Children are much more sensitive to voice than beeps. So, definitely place these alarms in children’s bedrooms.
In case it detects CO, the warning will be four quick beeps and the voice alert will be “Warning! Carbon Monoxide, evacuate.”
Apart from the beeps and voice alerts, the indicator LED (surrounding the button) will change colors depending on the mode. When the unit is powered on, the LED becomes green. In case of a smoke or CO alarm, it becomes red. And if there is any fault with the sensor or battery (low battery), the LED turns yellow. The intensity of the light is not distracting and it won’t affect your sleep.
You can use the Siterwell Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm in kitchen (not directly about the stove though) as it can detect cooking smoke and smoke from fire. With this, the chances of false alarms are significantly less.
Another thing that aids in preventing false alarms is the micro-mesh design. The holes of the mesh surrounding the sensor are only 1.2mm in diameter. This keeps bugs, insects, and other unnecessary particles/obstacles from entering the sensor and creating false alarms.
One of the standout features of this alarm is wireless interconnectivity (using RF Communication). Instead of relying on a single alarm, you can connect up to 18 units so that if one alarm detects smoke or CO, all units will sound. For pairing, press and hold the main button for about 3 seconds. The unit will shout pairing mode. Do the same on the other units and they will pair and synchronize over RF.
This way, if there is smoke or CO in your garage, the alarm in your bedroom will also start making the sound. Very useful for larger homes.
You can use the main button to test the unit (long press) or silence the unit if the alarm goes off. If the battery is low, the unit will provide both beeps and voice alerts. Use the button (press ones) to pause the low-battery warning for about 10-hours. Very useful during night time. In case of false alarms, press this button to silence the alarm for about 8 to 10 Hours.
Coming to the important factor of the Wireless Smoke Alarm: the battery life. Siterwell claims a 10-year battery life on the built-in lithium battery. If this is true, then you can use the unit worry-free for its entire lifetime. If you aren’t familiar, most smoke sensors have a life of about 10 years after which they suffer from degradation in the quality of material inside the sensor. Most manufacturers recommend replacing smoke sensors every 10 years.
As we said earlier, there is a hardwired model that runs on AC mains supply. With this unit, you have to connect the alarm to the house’s electrical network. What if there is a power outage? Don’t worry. These models come with user replaceable AA batteries as backup. Even the hardwired models support interconnection. However, they must be physically connected using the third wire. Apart from this, everything else is identical between wireless and hardwired models.
At the time of reviewing the product, the cost of the Siterwell Wireless Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm is $52.99 while it is $54.99 for the Hardwired Interconnected Model. Given its wireless interconnectivity, dual detection, and 10-year sensor life, we feel the Siterwell alarm is competitively priced compared to other dual-function alarms.
If you’re looking for a reliable, wireless interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, the Siterwell Wireless Interconnected Alarm is an excellent choice. It provides dual protection, wireless interconnectivity, and long battery life at a reasonable price. While it lacks smart home integration, its core safety features make it a valuable investment for home security.
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