Smoke Detector Safety

10/28/2020 (Permalink)

Fall time change is a great time to change the battery in your smoke detector

When was the last time you tested your smoke alarm?

Smoke alarms can be a life saver. In a report from The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), “three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (38%) or no working smoke alarms (21%)”. This statistic alone is startling and shows the importance of having smoke alarms in your home or business. SERVPRO of Burlington has some helpful tips for how to properly install and maintain them to ensure the safety of you and your family.

• Alarms should be installed on the inside and outside of bedrooms.
• Install a smoke alarm on each level of your home.
• Use an interconnected alarm system which allows for all alarms in your home or business to sound off when one alarm is set off.
• Do not install a smoke alarm near your kitchen as you don’t want any false alarms such as smoke from burnt toast.
• Test all smoke alarms once a month to ensure they are running properly.
• Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once every year.
• Replace your smoke alarm every 10 years. Be sure to check the back of your alarm for the manufacturer’s date so you know when to replace.

Nearly 1628 deaths were reported between January 1, 2020 and October 23, 2020 from home fires in the United States. Be sure to take the proper precautions to protect you and the lives of those around you by adhering to the recommended safety tips listed above.