First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm vs Heiman HS1SA Series Smoke Alarm

The Heiman HS1SA Series Smoke Alarm wins overall as the more affordable, better-rated unit with wider smart-home integration and a built-in light. However, the First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm is the safer device if you need carbon monoxide detection, which the smoke-only Heiman lacks.

Hazard coverage is the biggest difference. The First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm detects both smoke and carbon monoxide, while the Heiman HS1SA Series Smoke Alarm detects smoke only. The Heiman offsets this with a lower price, higher rating and Zigbee integration with SmartThings and Home Assistant.

No. The Heiman HS1SA Series Smoke Alarm is a smoke and fire alarm only, with no CO sensor. The First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm adds an electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor, so it warns of both smoke and CO from a single unit.

The Heiman HS1SA Series Smoke Alarm connects over Zigbee and needs a hub, working with Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant. The First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm connects over Wi-Fi and works with Google Home, so your existing platform helps decide the fit.

Buy the Heiman HS1SA Series Smoke Alarm if you want an affordable, discreet, well-rated Zigbee smoke sensor for SmartThings or Home Assistant with a built-in light, and you do not need carbon monoxide detection in the same device.

Buy the First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm if you want combined smoke and carbon monoxide protection with steam-check, CO and low-battery alerts and a 10-year warranty, and you use Google Home.