Back in 2012, Ryan Margoles, a mechanical engineer, found himself in an all too common scenario. He and his girlfriend had recently adopted a puppy, but like many puppies, Apollo was terrified of any kind of beeping sound, no matter how low or brief – the buzz of a microwave oven, the high-pitched trill of an alarm clock.
One afternoon, Ryan stepped out to run a few errands, unaware that a smoke alarm in his home was low on battery. By the time he returned, the persistent chirp of the dying alarm had sent Apollo into a frenzy of fearful shaking.
Ryan calmed his dog (with plenty of belly rubs!), changed the alarm’s batteries, and then had an epiphany: What good is a smoke alarm if you’re not there to hear it?
Ryan's initial idea led Brett and him to found Notion, a smart monitoring system that helps homeowners monitor for water leaks to temperature changes, sounding alarms, and more!
Why Smart Alarm Sensors Are So Beneficial
Smoke alarms, without a doubt, play an important role in reducing fire deaths and injuries.
In fact, according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the risk of dying in reported home structure fires is 55% lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms.
This means that for as little as $25, you can double your home's fire protection!
But what about fires that occur in homes that are empty or only used part-time, or when someone is away from home? As Ryan came to realize, if no one’s around to hear an alarm go off, what use do they provide?
Many smoke alarms on the market today are hybrid devices that detect smoke and carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. When these substances are detected above a certain threshold, an audible alarm is triggered, alerting occupants so they can get to safety and call 911.
A Notion Sensor, on the other hand, will send you a push notification when your UL-listed smoke/CO alarm sounds, so even when you're away from home, you can take action.
Not only does this give you more time to alert the proper authorities, but it can also help you reduce the cost of repairing and restoring fire and smoke damage.
According to The Insurance Information Institute, the average loss of fire and lightning claim is $78,838. On the lower end, you’re looking at smoke and removal services, while on the higher end, you may require water damage cleanup, sanitizing, and structural rebuilding.
Something to keep in mind is that how much you pay for fire restoration is often determined by how large the fire is and how long it burns before it’s put out.
By installing a Notion Sensor near your UL-listed smoke or CO alarm, you’ll receive an alert on your smartphone when the alarm sounds so you can take immediate action.
Thanks for reading! Fire safety is one of those things that people tend to overlook – but it’s something you absolutely cannot risk neglecting. Hopefully this article provides some inspiration for ways to keep your family and home safe.
