Today, homes are increasingly “smart,” with wired fridges, doorbells, and other WiFi-enabled devices booming. According to a March 2022 industry report, the global market for home security is expected to rise from $2.9 billion in 2019 to an estimated $12.8 billion in 2026, driven by a rise in Internet of Things (IoT) technology and growing anxiety about broader safety concerns.
“With technological advancement, consumers today prefer smart homes having various advanced technology,” the report states. This trend should bring “promising growth in the intelligent home security market.”
And yet, of all home security concerns, one of the most critical tech upgrades is happening in a space often overlooked: the very air we breathe. This year, Kidde, the most installed fire-safety brand in North America*, released Smart Detection featuring Kidde HomeSafe. Smart Detection is an array of WiFi-enabled alarms that detect threats of smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), water leaks, frozen pipes, and indoor air quality issues, and it provides alerts—all monitored by homeowners in a single app.
Offering a simple setup, remote notifications, and status updates, HomeSafe technology is compatible with existing smart devices and can use voice commands to check updates and connection. And the devices work around-the-clock to detect threats even when homeowners are away—helping to protect the people, places, and things that matter.**
Here’s how HomeSafe devices support a whole-home system:
Breathe Easier with Double the Threat Detection
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 50,000 people per year go to the emergency room due to accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. “Carbon monoxide can be deadly even in small quantities, as it replaces oxygen in the bloodstream,” states an industry report. “Properly installing, testing, and maintaining CO alarms” is a key way to reduce harm.
Despite the danger of smoke and CO, protecting homes against these twin threats has long been a challenge, due to the need for separate detection devices for each. Now, however, the Kidde Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm with smart features offers enhanced sensing capability for both in a single device. It’s easy to install, thanks to QR code instructions, and the alarm has a 10-year, sealed-in lithium backup battery that helps keep homeowners safe even if the power goes out. Connecting with the Kidde app, the alarm provides instant notifications, no matter the location of the homeowner, if smoke or CO is detected***.
Ensure Your Air is Always Safe
While smoke and CO alarms offer foundational detection, homeowners can increase their level of security to cover a concern that gained increased visibility during the pandemic—the quality of the air. In addition to detecting smoke and CO, the Kidde Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Indoor Air Quality Monitor can detect multiple airborne threats. Using a built-in air quality sensor, the WiFi-enabled device measures a home’s temperature, humidity, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), which are harmful airborne irritants that come from everyday items like paints and lacquers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, cosmetics, and building materials. The device can alert homeowners to potential dangers before they even happen. The sensors, for instance, notify when humidity levels become high enough for mold growth, and then the app recommends steps to prevent it.
Monitor—and Prevent—Water Damage
Water leaks and frozen pipes can happen unexpectedly, causing extensive damage and high repair bills. To give homeowners an edge on preventing water problems before they happen, the Kidde Water Leak + Freeze Detector uses small devices (small enough to fit in the palm of your hand) spread throughout the home to provide alerts for leaks or plummeting temperatures. Located in places like under sinks, dishwashers, toilets, beside pipes, and near water heaters the WiFi-enabled devices can help give early warning to homeowners and even be set to alert friends, neighbors, and family members.
Going forward, home safety will continue to be a top priority for homeowners. In 2020, local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.4 million fires in the United States, according to research from a leading organization. These fires caused 3,500 deaths and 15,200 injuries. Carbon monoxide poisonings claim roughly 430 lives per year. But now, with the Kidde Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm and the company’s powerful suite of home-detection tools, every homeowner can stay on the smart side of safe around the clock—even when they’re away.
Learn more about Kidde HomeSafe technology here.
*According to Kidde
**This product’s smartphone and tablet notifications require a stable Wi-Fi connection, and are only as reliable as your home's Wi-Fi network.
***Mobile alert services are ancillary to the product and for informational purposes only. They are not intended or suitable for life safety or critical purposes, nor do these services take the place of third-party life safety monitoring services. This product’s smartphone and tablet notifications require a stable Wi-Fi connection, and are only as reliable as your home Wi-Fi network.
This story was produced by WIRED Brand Lab for Kidde.
