Most homes in Canada have smoke alarms installed, but how often do you think about yours? If you?re like me, smoke alarms are low on the priority list. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, having an operating smoke alarm can reduce your risk of death in a fire by half. Between 2003 and 2006, two-thirds of all home-fire deaths occurred in homes that didn?t have working fire alarms.
So how can you ensure that your smoke alarms are properly installed and operating? By developing an attitude for safety.
As Eleanor Everet said, ?Safety is not a gadget, but a state of mind.? A few simple maintenance tasks will keep your smoke alarms in tip-top condition.
Smoke alarm installation
1- Buy smoke alarms that have been laboratory-tested for safety. Look for labels, such as ETL, UL, or CSA that indicate the fire alarm has gone through extensive research. The cheapest model may not always be the best option. Do you really want to bargain with your family?s safety?
2- Smoke alarms are available with two types of sensors ? ionization and photoelectric. If possible, buy alarms that contain both sensors. These alarms are the most effective at detecting all types of fires.
3- Look for smoke alarms that can be hard-wired into your electrical system. Hard-wired alarms are 91% effective at detecting fires, while battery-operated types work effectively 75% of the time, according to the National Fire Protection Agency. Smoke alarms that can be connected are especially effective, because if a fire starts in one part of the house, all the alarms will sound, giving you more time to escape.
4- Place them high. Since smoke rises, smoke alarms should be placed high on a wall or on the ceiling.
5- Install smoke alarms on every floor and near, or in, each bedroom. Place wall smoke alarms 12 inches from the ceiling. Place ceiling alarms four inches from the nearest wall. Avoid placing smoke alarms near doors, windows or vents. The alarms won?t operate properly in these conditions. Steam or smoke in the kitchen can set off the alarm or cause it to malfunction.
6- Get good quality smoke alarms. Home improvement and warehouse stores often sell high-quality smoke alarms in pairs. Buy several at a time to save money while keeping your family safe. Install carbon monoxide detectors at the same time. These devices protect your family from clear, odorless, but deadly carbon monoxide.
Maintaining smoke alarms
Once you?ve chosen and installed a smoke alarm, don?t think the job?s done. Regular maintenance is essential to keep your alarms running properly.
7- Test the batteries once a month if you have a battery-operated device. Push the button to sound and test the battery. Replace a chirping battery.
8- Replace the batteries at least annually. A friend of mine chooses Daylight Savings day in the fall to change the batteries in her smoke detector. She also uses this day to review fire safety with her family and practice a fire drill. Mark a day on your calendar so you don?t forget.
9- Replace any smoke alarms that are older than 10 years. If you can?t remember when you installed yours, or if you?ve purchased an older home, replace the smoke alarms as a precaution.
10- Don?t take the batteries out and leave them out. Move an alarm that goes off without cause to another location. A common cause of fire-related deaths is inoperable smoke alarms that were disabled because the alarm kept going off.
If you plan on buying or selling a home, visit ComFree.com today.
Source: http://blog.comfree.com/2012/11/07/important-smoke-alarm-basics/
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