Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice. I just purchased several smoke alarms and I'm curious if they're still effective if I install them on the wall rather than the ceiling. Is there a big risk in terms of safety if they're mounted on the wall? I really want to ensure my family is safe from fires. Just a heads up, I have POTS which makes it tough for me to raise my arms, so regular maintenance and checking could be tricky for me. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It's generally recommended to install smoke detectors on the ceiling because smoke rises. If you put them on the wall, make sure they're a few inches away from the ceiling. That said, they can still work on walls, just not as effectively as on the ceiling. The main thing is to have them installed somewhere safe!
Yeah, I remember last time I installed a smoke alarm, the instructions said to mount it on the wall, a little distance from the ceiling. Just make sure it’s in a good spot; better to have one on the wall than none at all!

Thanks for the tip! I might have to get creative to figure out the install.