Internet Connected

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector + Cameras

Very sadly there was a recent incident in my neighbourhood where a house was badly damaged by fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Therefore I thought it would be helpful to share what I’ve done to improve fire safety in my house and some family members’ homes too.

Fire is an obvious risk, but carbon monoxide poisoning is also important to address. It kills around 40 people and hospitalises around 250 every year. In low doses, it can go misdiagnosed as flu-like illness, food poisoning, or depression. It can be caused by faults with gas boilers gas cookers, and wood, gas and coal fires.

I wanted to address two fire and carbon monoxide scenarios:

1. When the home was occupied, providing early warning so we could get out of the house and get help

2. When no one is home, again provide early warning, but in this case, minimise damage to the house by calling the fire brigade as early as possible

Internet Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

After some research, I choose a pair of Nest Protect smoke and CO alarms.

One for upstairs and the other downstairs. They come in battery or mains-powered versions. The battery version lasts many months before needing fresh or recharged, batteries.

They are simple DIY install. Simply screw on the ceiling and using the mobile App connect them to home WiFi.

If they detect low-level smoke or CO they give a warning both audibly and via the mobile app, no matter where you are. If they detect dangerous levels of smoke or CO they give an extremely loud emergency alert as well as push a notification to your mobile phone. Both units sound even if only one is detecting.

They also include a handy built-in night light that can trigger based on movement and comes on in the event of an alarm.

At around £100 each, they aren’t cheap, but I find them very reassuring. 

Nest Protect – Smart Smoke & CO Alarm – Google Store

Internet Cameras

I also installed the Nest Indoor Camera. Partly for security and partly because I thought if the smoke/CO alarm went off when I was away I’d want to see and hear what was going on before dialling 999.

The cameras work with the same App as the alarms so you can view and control everything in one place. 

They are also easy to install. Simple plug into a mains socket (they come with quite a long lead) and connect to WiFi with the App. 

As well as looking at the camera if there was a smoke/CO alarm they can also be set up to give an alert if they see movement, or a person or hear a noise. 

Again not cheap, but at around £90 not super expensive:

Nest Cam (indoor, wired) – Google Store

In addition to installing at my own home, I’ve also installed at my 95-year-old mother’s house. I definitely feel more secure as does my mother. It feels like a good investment that I’m pleased to share with others.

If you have any questions or want some help drop me an email: mike@mikemckeown.info