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Smoke Detectors
What is inexpensive, can save lives and should be in all homes? The smoke detector (alarm). Here are a couple of helpful tips for home owners on installation and maintenance of smoke alarms.
1. Choose an alarm.
When purchasing a smoke alarm, look for the label of an independent testing lab. Make sure the alarm works off of batteries or a combination of batteries and the household current. No matter what you have, all approved (labeled) alarms can save you.
2. How many and where to put them.
You should install smoke alarms on every floor of your home, basement and outside of all bedrooms. Make sure that everyone can hear the smoke alarms. If there is a hearing-impaired person living with you, smoke detectors that are louder or flash a bright light as well as an alarm can be purchased. Do not install smoke detectors near rooms where cooking-fumes, steam or automobile exhaust could set them off.
3. Where to install your alarm.
Alarms should be mounted high on the wall or better yet on the ceiling. Position wall-mounted detectors with the top of the alarm 4 to 12 inches from the ceiling. If you have a ceiling-mounted alarm, place them at least 4 inches away from the nearest wall. If you have a room with a pitched ceiling, install the detector near the ceilings highest point. In stairways that do not have doors at the top or the bottom, install your alarm anywhere along the staircase. If you do have stairs that have a doors, place your alarm at the bottom of closed stairways. Do not place smoke detectors too close to a window or door because drafts could interfere with the operation of the alarm.
4. Maintenance.
Test your smoke detector at least monthly (or manufacturers specifications), install new batteries once a year (when you turn your clocks back in the fall) or when the alarm chirps indicating a low battery. Never paint a smoke detector.
Smoke alarms do not last forever, please replace them if the alarm is more the 10 years old.
Your family can be protected by something as inexpensive as a smoke detector, GET ONE!
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