Smoke alarm placement and battery replacement schedule

Smoke alarm placement and battery replacement schedule

Smoke alarm placement and battery replacement schedule

Your chance of dying in a house fire is halved if your smoke alarm is operational.

Batteries that are either missing or dead are the main culprits of alarm failures. Install a combined hardwired alarm with battery backup for the best protection.

Location of alarms
Install smoke alarms in every room, the corridor, and on every floor of your house.
Alarms mounted on the ceiling should be 4 inches away from the wall. Your alarms should be 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling if they are mounted on a wall. Avoid placing alarms close to vents, windows, or drafty areas. If you're unsure of where to store them, contact your local fire department.
Use alarms with features like strobe lights or bed shakers if someone in your home has hearing loss.

Keep your alarms working
Every month, test smoke alarms by depressing their test buttons.
Replace the batteries in your alarms that use ordinary batteries at least once a year. A "chirping" noise indicates that the batteries need to be changed.
Replace each alarm at least every ten years since alarm sensors deteriorate over time. Alarms also feature labels with the date of manufacture. If there isn't a label, the alarm has to be replaced because it is outdated.
The detection of smoke by alarms is hampered by dust and cobwebs. Dust your alarms with a vacuum attachment to keep them in good condition.

Plan your getaway
A home fire escape strategy should be created and practiced. Pick a dependable location outside to meet, such as a lamp post or mailbox. Families should rehearse what to do when a smoke alarm rings, much way schools conduct fire drills.
Crawl under the smoke and escape your house if your alarm goes off. Just leave right away without taking anything with you. Once outside, proceed to the location of your meeting and dial 9-1-1. Never enter a burning building again.

This article was contributed on Aug 02, 2022