Like I said in another thread, I'm an engineer for a smoke alarm company; so my advice may be biased.... There are smoke alarm alternatives available, but they

Like I said in another thread, I'm an engineer for a smoke alarm company; so my advice may be biased.... There are smoke alarm alternatives available, but they're very expensive. Nest is a high priced gadget / toy that must be thrown out after 7 years. You're better off buying a First Alert or Kidde photoelectric smoke alarm with a 10 year battery. Then you'll never have to worry about it for 10 years. They'll cost around $30-$40 each. If you want a higher-end serious fire protection system, there are alternatives if you look around. Crossfire alarms are very good (although their website may not be...) They are made in USA (even the plastic injection molding, circuit board assembly, etc). They are wirelessly interconnected, photoelectric smoke alarms with a 10-year battery. They have a heat alarm for the garage, kitchen, furnace closet, attic, etc. These are places you can't put a smoke alarm, but also places where fires actually begin. You have smoke alarms in your bedrooms, hallway, and living room; but fires rarely start there. They also have a carbon monoxide alarm; and all the alarms set each other off. If there's a fire in your garage, the alarm in your bedroom goes off. They're also coming out with products that will send you a text message and call the fire department, and products for the elderly, children, and hearing impaired. These are very high-end systems, and are very expensive (even more than Nest). They're sold only by dealers who professionally evaluate the home and install them. This also adds to their cost - you're buying an alarm plus a salesman plus an installer. Companies like ADT and AT&T offer good systems that can call the fire department and have other features. But, they're expensive, have a monthly fee, and are usually based on normal cheapo alarms. There's a few options; but none of them are perfect...