Smoke Detectors | Your First Line Of Defense In Case Of Fire

2 November, 2009

Ensuring that you have smoke detectors in your home has become such a rallying cry over the years that it's now something people take for granted. Unfortunately, many homes still remain under protected or completely unprotected. The fact is, however, smoke detectors, like seatbelts, really can save lives.

Did you know that residential fires kill more than 5,000 people on average each year in the United States? According to a recent report by the U.S. Fire Administration, residential fires represent 84% of all fire-related deaths, and 81% of injuries to non-emergency personnel in 2008.

According to the same study, the most common causes of fires at home are cooking, heating devices, and open flames like garden torches or candles. Open flames and smoking in bed are the most likely cause of fire-related deaths.

When you consider these findings, it’s really quite shocking that more homeowners don’t maintain their smoke detectors in good working order. Something as simple as changing the batteries regularly will save lives, yet many homeowners today are lazy about that one simple preventative maintenance task. So many fires happen at night, when families are sleeping, which further stresses the need for working smoke detectors on every level of your house, and near areas like furnaces and bedrooms. There's no denying the simple fact that smoke detectors are essential for giving you the chance to escape a fire.

Here are some tips from the home security experts at US Home Security that will help you install and maintain your smoke detectors:

Proper smoke detector installation locations are on ceilings or high on walls. Place them away from cold air returns, air conditioners, exhaust fans, and other types of air circulation units. Locate them in bedrooms or in a location where they can be heard in the bedrooms when the doors are shut.

Perform monthly unit tests. Smoke detectors have a button that can be pushed to test the alarm, and there are various spray products that can be used to test the sensors and alarm response of each unit. Don't forget to change the batteries at least once a year.

Vacuum or dust the inlet of each smoke detector regularly to ensure the grills do not get clogged and are operating a peak performance.

Never uninstall or disconnect smoke detectors if the tend to sound a lot of false alarms. This just means they're too close to a cooking or heating source. Instead, move them away from those units and reinstall them in a better location. Disconnecting a smoke detector renders it useless. A simple relocation is the best solution for false alarm situations.

Your home security specialist at US Home Security will be able to advise you as to which types of smoke detectors should be placed in different locations throughout your premises. Don't let a sour economy be an excuse for not protection you, your home, and your loved ones.