How to Maintain a Smoke Alarm

Want to know how to maintain a smoke alarm? Read our easy tips below.

Smoke alarms are meant to warn you if there is smoke coming from a fire in your home. Having a smoke alarm installed in your home can save your life. Learning how to maintain a smoke alarm will help ensure it actually works when you need it to.

How to Maintain a Smoke Alarm

Here’s an easy timeline on how to maintain a smoke alarm.

–Every month: Test your smoke alarm by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds. Testing regularly will ensure that the battery and the sounder are both working.
–Every six months: Clean your smoke alarm using a vacuum cleaner. Regular cleaning will remove any particles that may hinder the performance of the unit.
–Every year: Change the batteries. Removable alkaline batteries should be replaced annually. Built in lithium batteries will not need replacement until the unit needs to be replaced, which is usually in 10 years. If the alarms warns you that the battery is low even before your scheduled replacement, get new batteries right away. Check your manufacturer’s guide for the exact details on the battery low warning.
–Every ten years: Replace your smoke alarm. Regardless of the type, brand or model, all smoke alarms must be replaced with a new unit every 10 years. Studies have shown that at this point, they have a failure rate of 30%. The manufactured date will be displayed on your smoke alarm. Use this as reference.

Here are more tips on how to maintain a smoke alarm:

— Follow the manufacturer’s manual.
— Contact a licensed electrical contractor for work on mains powered smoke alarm.
— Do not pain your smoke alarm. This and other decorations such as stickers, can hinder the unit’s performance.
— Do not place the smoke alarm near windows, ducts or doors or where they are covered by furniture or draperies that can interfere with their operation.

Get more help on how to maintain a smoke alarm, as well as installation or removal of alarm units from Mediacoms.