Tips for Installing and Maintaining Smoke Detectors

10/07/2019 Lincoln, R.I.

Smoke detectors can only save lives if they’re properly installed and maintained, and three out of five deaths that result from home fires occur in residences with no working smoke detectors. Here are three tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to make sure the smoke detectors in your home are helping protect what matters most – you and your family.

Place multiple detectors on every level of your home

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, including bedrooms and their adjoining hallways, in addition to kitchens and basements. They should be interconnected so that if one sounds, they all sound. Test detectors monthly.

Test smoke detectors every month. Immediately replace any smoke detector that does not respond properly when tested.

Replace smoke detectors every ten years

To determine the age of a smoke detector, look on the back to find the manufacture date. Replace combination smoke-carbon monoxide detectors according to the manufacturer’s specifications. It’s recommended that you replace all your smoke detectors at the same time, regardless of their age.

Have a plan ready

You’ll typically only have one to two minutes to safely escape a home fire after hearing the alarm sound. Make sure everyone in the home recognizes the sound of the alarm and knows what to do when they hear it. It’s easy to have a plan to simply “run outside,” but you should make sure to have a back-up plan in case any exits are blocked.