Home Safety- Smoke Detector Maintenance

27 May, 2010

Like seatbelts, smoke detectors save lives. If you're the kind of person who insists on wearing seatbelts, and insists that everyone in the car with you buckles up, then you're also the kind of person who insists on having smoke detectors in your house. If not, then there's really no excuse, and by the end of this article you'll know why.

So, do you have properly functioning smoke detectors in your home? Do you even know how you can tell if they're working? Most homeowners feel like they have a handle on the smoke detectors in their homes, but you'd be surprised how many people don't realize they're battery operated and not actually tied into the electrical plant of the house. Battery backup is critical in the even the power goes out. Your home and family still need protection from smoke and fire in a power outage, and quite possibly more so than when the power is on.

This is a part of home security that simply cannot be overlooked. Smoke detectors do save lives every day, and can save your life and the lives of your family should a fire ever break out in your house.

Preventative maintenance will ensure that the smokes detectors in your house are working at optimal effectiveness. This can be done by checking each detector once per month. An easy way to remember is to schedule it as the first thing you do to start each month. Placing home security at the top of your list for keeping your family safe is a great way to ensure you'll remember to do this.

Make sure the inlet vents of each detector are clear of dust and debris. A great way to perform this task is to buy a can of compressed air, which are pretty much available everywhere, and certainly anywhere personal computers are sold. Smoke detectors also come equipped with a button you can press to test the high decibel siren. Check each smoke detector to ensure they'll sound if smoke is detected.

Every six months the batteries need to be changed. Virtually every smoke detector manufactured today runs on a standard 9-volt battery. You can purchase these anywhere. The cover generally twists off easily, exposing the battery. Simply remove the old battery and replace it with a fresh one. We change ours on New Year's day and once again on the 4th of July. They're simple dates to remember and seem to fit with what we're doing. Whichever days you choose doesn't matter. Just remember to change them twice per year.

Protect your home with a professionally installed and monitored ADT home security system, complete with smoke detectors, and discover why millions of homeowners protect their homes the very same way.