While you’ve doubtlessly seen fire sprinkler systems in commercial buildings and maybe apartments and even condos you’ve lived in, you probably haven’t seen that many in houses. This can lead folks to think they’re too expensive to install, but in truth, residential fire sprinklers aren’t that cost prohibitive. A home sprinkler system can cost less than 1% of the cost of a new home (about $1.50 per square foot), according to The Complete Book of Home, Site and Office Security.

It’s easiest to install fire sprinkler systems when a home is being built, but they can be added during a remodel or at any other time as well.

Here is some facts on the type of quick-response sprinkler systems you might consider installing in your home:

• Sprinklers are the most reliable fire-protection devices around since they operate automatically, whether anyone is home or not.
• Contrary to popular belief, a sprinkler going off in one room (where the fire is sensed) won’t cause all the sprinklers to go off all over the house, drenching everything you own.  Sprinklers will only go off in the rooms where heat is detected.
• If money is tight, you need not install a whole-home sprinkler system–instead consider just installing a sprinkler in the kitchen near the stove (the kitchen is the most frequent place house fires are started).

If you want to know your house and your family is safe in the event of a fire, it’s definitely a good idea to consider a sprinkler system.