Smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries.
If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out.
Safety Tips:
Install smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Install alarms on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement.
Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds they all sound.
Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
There are two kinds of alarms. Ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires. It is best to use both types of alarms in the home.
A smoke alarms should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.
People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf car use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
The Fire Department cannot troubleshoot or repair any alarm systems. A repair technician or handy man will need to replace the detectors if they are faulty.
Most smoke detectors will last 7-10 years and often the internal sensors will go bad. This is what causes the intermittent “chirping” of the alarm. When this occurs, the batteries need to either be replaced or a new smoke alarm needs to be installed. Either way, a repair technician can troubleshoot the alarm and replace the batteries.
