Written by Brian Quezada
Published 9/2/2023
Kidde Smoke Detector
Kidde Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector with Voice Alerts: The Ultimate Safety Review
Introduction
When it comes to the safety of your home and loved ones, there's no room for compromise. The Kidde Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector with Voice Alerts, model KN-COSM-BA, offers a comprehensive solution for fire and carbon monoxide detection. This battery-powered unit combines the best of both worlds, ensuring that you're well-protected against two of the most common household dangers. Let's delve into the features, pros, and cons of this life-saving device.
What It Is and How It Works
The Kidde KN-COSM-BA is a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector that uses advanced ionization sensing technology for detecting invisible fire particles. It also employs an electrochemical sensor for carbon monoxide detection. When the device senses smoke, fire, or carbon monoxide, it triggers an 85-decibel alarm, flashing LEDs, and voice alerts.
For smoke detection, the alarm announces, "Fire! Fire!" accompanied by a red LED flashing in sync with the voice alert. For carbon monoxide, the voice alert says, "Warning! Carbon Monoxide!" The device also has a low battery voice alert and is powered by 2-AA batteries, ensuring functionality even during power outages.
The unit features a convenient pop-up, front-door battery compartment for easy battery replacement. It also comes with a Smart Hush button to silence false or nuisance alarms. A green LED flashes every 60 seconds in standby mode, indicating that the device is operational. The device is UL Certified and comes with a 10-year limited manufacturer's warranty.
Cons
Voice Alert Volume
Some users have reported that the voice alert could be louder, especially for those who are hard of hearing.
Sensitivity
While the device is designed to be sensitive to smoke and carbon monoxide, this can sometimes result in false alarms from routine activities like cooking or showering.
Pros
Dual Detection
The Kidde KN-COSM-BA offers both smoke and carbon monoxide detection, providing comprehensive safety coverage in a single unit.
Voice Alerts
The voice alerts offer an additional layer of warning, making it easier to identify the type of danger present.
Battery-Powered with Easy Replacement
The device is powered by 2-AA batteries, ensuring it works even during power failures. The front-door battery compartment makes battery replacement a breeze.
Smart Hush Button
The Smart Hush button allows you to silence nuisance or false alarms, a feature that can be particularly useful in a busy household.
Reliable and Certified
The device is UL Certified and meets multiple safety standards, ensuring that it is a reliable choice for home safety.
Easy Installation
Users have reported that the device is easy to install, often fitting into existing mounting sockets from previous alarms.
Pros Negate Cons
The Smart Hush button effectively addresses the issue of sensitivity, allowing you to quickly silence false alarms. As for the voice alert volume, the 85-decibel alarm sound is loud enough to alert most people, making the voice alert a secondary, albeit useful, feature.
Conclusion
The Kidde Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector with Voice Alerts is a robust, reliable, and comprehensive safety solution for any home. While it has a couple of minor drawbacks, the numerous advantages make these issues almost negligible. If you're looking for a device that offers dual protection against smoke and carbon monoxide, this Kidde model is an excellent choice.