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October 07, 2016 Maintenance

Smoke Alarms – Get Them Checked or Replaced

A smoke alarm is one of the most important safety features that you have in your home. Smoke alarms provide a very inexpensive way to make sure you and your family are protected in the event of a fire. However, for the smoke detector to provide any benefit from deadly smoke, you need to test it regularly.

A smoke alarm is a small unit which is either battery operated or works off AC-power. If you have an AC-powered unit, you should have this installed by a qualified electrician. A smoke alarm that is connected to your main power supply will be more dependable, but it still has a battery backup in the event that the power fails.

You should replace smoke alarms every 10 years and it should be part of your maintenance program. This is because a build-up of dust, dirt, and residues can collect in the detectors and interfere with their operation.

You should check all smoke alarms in your home every month. Every unit for detecting smoke in your home will have a test button that you can press. If there is no sound from the alarm, you should replace the battery or call an electrician.

Many modern smoke alarms have a hush-button that will switch the alarm off for a short period. This is useful if your smoke alarm frequently goes off when you are cooking in the kitchen. However, you should never completely remove the battery from your smoke detector. If your alarm goes off frequently, it is time to change it for a new one or speak to a professional electrician who can advise on a more suitable place for it.

So, always make sure that you have a smoke alarm in your home that is working. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more people in the U.S. die every year from smoke inhalation than they do from the actual fire.

Protect your family from the consequences of breathing in deadly smoke in the event of a fire by installing a smoke alarm in your home.