Review: Kidde’s 2-in-1 Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm makes home safety easy

As a mom of young kids I am constantly trying to make sure the house is babyproof, childproof and safe. From baby gates to door locks and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, everything must be thought of. Generally smoke and CO detectors are out of sight, out of mind, tucked up high on the ceiling or wall. But they’re really important—and in many places, by law you have to have them. When it comes to protecting your family from a fire or carbon monoxide you want something that is easy to use, install and understand. We tried out the Kidde Wireless 2-in-1 Talking Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm and quickly discovered it’s just that.

While not the smallest unit out there, the Kidde alarm pulls double duty by alerting you if it detects either smoke or carbon monoxide. Plus, the battery-powered alarm offers wireless interconnectivity for multiple units—no messy rewiring required. When one goes off, they all do, so that no matter where you are in your house you'll hear the warning. And Kidde has taken this connectivity to the next level by making it compatible with Wink, a smarthome hub and app. The Wink hub can send instant alerts from the alarm to your smartphone if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected, so even if you’re not at home, you will be alerted if there’s an issue. I could see this giving me a lot of peace of mind when my kids are old enough to spend a bit of time at home alone.

What’s different about the Kidde 2 in 1 Wireless Talking Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm is that it alerts with voice messages to identify the different dangers: "Carbon Monoxide" and "Fire!" Same goes for a low battery (no more near-heart-attack when your alarm goes off only to realize it’s just because the batteries need to be replaced). There are also warning beeps—three for smoke, four for carbon monoxide—to make sure the alarm gets everyone's attention, whether they’re awake or asleep.

Of course, one of the most important-for-your-sanity features of a smoke or CO alarm is the hush button (we've all been there...burnt toast anyone?). The Kidde 2 in 1’s Test/Hush button is quite large and therefore easy to access. Even better, because the system is wireless, you can quickly and easily silence nuisance alarms from any unit if you mount one within reach.

One thing you might not know is that smoke and CO alarms have a limited lifespan because the sensors wear out. Most smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years, and many CO alarms need to be replaced after six or seven years of use. This Kidde alarm comes with a 10-year warranty. And while there’s a handy sticker on the side of the unit to write when you installed it and when it should be replaced (the date installed plus 10 years), 10 years after the unit is first powered on, it will beep two times every 30 seconds to tell you it’s time for a new alarm—really helpful, because let's face it: Can you remember when your smoke alarm was installed?

Little Miss Kate & Co works to embrace the chaos of motherhood one day at a time and loves sharing family friendly recipes and travel adventures. Follow them on twitter @LilMissKateco and check out their YouTube channel for helpful reviews.

The Kidde Wireless 2-in-1 Talking Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is a Today’s Parent Approved 2016 winner. Keeping your kids safe is every parent’s No. 1 priority. This super simple battery-powered alarm has sensors for both smoke and carbon monoxide, and it connects wirelessly to other compatible alarms in your home—so when one goes off, they all do, with the voice feature calling out “Fire!” or “Carbon monoxide!” It’s also compatible with the Wink hub and app, which can send instant alerts to your smartphone if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected. $64.99, homedepot.ca

See all of the 2016 Today’s Parent Approved winning products