3 Facts About Smoke Alarms

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

Three Important Facts About Smoke Alarms

Did you know that many Lake Johnson, NC, homes don’t have a working smoke alarm in each of their bedrooms? While newly constructed homes are required to have alarms in order to pass inspection, many older homes don’t have them. According to the National Fire Protection Association, your risk of dying in a home fire is reduced by 50% if you have functioning smoke detectors. Here are three important facts about smoke alarms.

1. Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Most people don’t anticipate being involved in a home fire. Unfortunately, home fires often happen during the night when homeowners are asleep; therefore, it’s essential to have a working smoke detector in every bedroom and outside every sleeping area. There should also be smoke alarms in the basement, even if no one sleeps downstairs. To increase your level of protection, make sure your alarms are interconnected. Therefore, if one alarm sounds then the rest will also beep.

2. Smoke Alarms Should Be Tested

Once you’ve installed a smoke alarm in every room of your home, test them each month. While new alarms should work for many years, it’s still advised to test them monthly. Simply stand on a stool or ladder and press the test button. This simple test will ensure that your smoke detectors are in good working condition.

3. Smoke Alarms Need To Be Replaced

Most homeowners are unaware that smoke detectors need to be replaced; fortunately, there is a simple way to check them. Take the alarm off of the ceiling or wall and check the manufacture date. The date will likely be located on the back of the alarm. If the manufacture date is older than 10 years, your alarm needs to be replaced. If it’s less than 10 years old, place the alarm back on the ceiling or wall.
The risk of injury and death can be greatly reduced when homeowners have a working smoke alarm in every room of their homes. If your Lake Johnson, NC, experiences any type of fire damage, fire restoration specialists are available to help.