How often should you test your smoke detector? Better to be safe than sorry; test your smoke detector often. Smoke detectors are great security features to have in your home, but they are not foolproof methods...
Smoke detectors are great security features to have in your home, but they are not foolproof methods of detecting fires. Make sure the detectors are installed properly, well maintained, and that you have a plan for what to do if they sound an alert. Never rely exclusively on a smoke detector to alert you of smoke or a fire. Take fire safety precautions and have an escape plan for your family in the event of an emergency.
The National Fire Protection Association says, "Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires in the small percentage of homes with no smoke alarms. In one-quarter of the reported fires in homes equipped with smoke alarms, the devices did not work. Households with non-working smoke alarms now outnumber those with no smoke alarms." These facts are staggering and alarming. With so many kinds of smoke alarms on the market today at affordable prices it is amazing how many people fail to buy and use these safety devices properly. Most non-functioning detectors found in homes where fires occurred were not functioning properly due to missing, dead, or disconnected batteries.
Heather Caldwell is the communications manager for Kidde, one of the largest manufacturing companies of fire safety products. Caldwell says, "We recommend that families test their smoke alarms every month. You need to know if your system is working. With wireless smoke alarms, you can press a button, and it will test the whole system for you. If you have a hardwired interconnected smoke alarm system, it should work that way as well. With any system that is interconnected, testing one smoke alarm should test all the alarms in that system. If you have just battery operated smoke alarms, obviously you are going to need to go around and test each smoke alarm individually."
A good way to remember when you have last changed the batteries in your smoke detector is to keep a log on your refrigerator or calendar. Another easy way to make sure you don't forget to change the batteries at least twice per year is to change them every spring and fall when you adjust your clocks forward or backwards in accordance with daylight savings time.
It is also important to make sure the smoke detector sounds an alarm properly when you test it. If it does not it may need new batteries or be defective. Some alarms will send out intermittent beeps periodically to let you know the battery power is low and needs to be replaced. Even though smoke detectors come with warranties, it is a good idea to replace them if they are ten or more years old.
Long life batteries are recommended for smoke detectors to improve reliability when you need them. Never remove the battery from your smoke detector to put in another device. You may intend to replace it later, but forget to do so and put your family at risk without even realizing it. Never disable a smoke detector even if it has sounded a false alarm. Instead you may be able to relocate it further away from steam or fumes that may be coming from the kitchen or bathroom and causing repeated false alarms.
Try to eliminate risks and use fire safety tips to protect your home and family. It is a good idea to install smoke detectors on each floor of your home and especially near the kitchen and bedroom areas. Ideally every home should have one or more fully operational smoke detectors. Your local fire station may be able to assist you in obtaining and/or installing a smoke detector if you are unable to do so yourself. If you rent or lease your home, the landlord should provide you with a smoke detector that is properly functioning. However, your lease may require that you maintain the smoke detector and replace the batteries when needed.
