The names of these detectors make their differences obvious. Smoke detectors are more sensitive when it comes to detecting smoke while heat detectors are more sensitive to any significant change in temperature. However, both detectors are the same in the sense that they detect the typical fire parameters. But this in no way means they are interchangeable.



A smoke detector will alert you to the presence of fire when it senses any of the products related to combustion within the atmosphere of your home. This is why a smoke detector goes off so quickly even with a small amount of smoke if it is located near the kitchen.

There are some slight differences between the two types of smoke detectors, but this will be discussed later in the article. The main fact is that all smoke detectors work by detecting the products related to fire combustion.

On the other hand, heat detector will alert you to a fire when the temperature near the detector reaches a certain level. These detectors will not recognize or alarm due to smoke. In fact some studies have shown that heat detectors may not give you enough of an early warning in order to escape from a life-threatening fire.

Although for areas such as a kitchen, garage and attic a heat detector can still be a valuable addition to your smoke detectors. This is because heat detectors can work in an area where a smoke detector isn't recommended.

When it comes to choosing detectors for your home you should use a combination of heat and smoke detectors in order to get comprehensive coverage for your home. Just keep in mind that heat detectors are meant to compliment rather than replace your smoke detectors. A smoke detector will alert you before the flames and heat are high enough to set off the heat detector and these extra seconds can prove vital to your ability to escape and get help.

Types of Smoke Detectors

There are two main types of smoke detectors the first of these is the ionization detector which works by forming an electrical path within the smoke detector that contains a very small amount of radioactive material. If smoke enters the detector they attach to the ions and therefore change the electrical current. When this happens the alarm will sound.

Then there are photoelectric detectors which work by using a light source and a photocell which is activated by light. Typically light never reaches the photocell. Although when smoke fills the detector the smoke will reflect light towards the photocell which then triggers the alarm.

Both types of smoke detectors are meant to detect smoke. The ionization detector will respond a little faster to flaming fires while the photoelectric detector will respond quicker to a smoldering fire. Although both types of detectors need to pass certified UL standards and both will give you adequate warning for nearly all types of fires. So it is more personal preferences when choosing between these two types of smoke detectors.