Installing a smoke detector can be a matter of life and death. Most home fires start when people are asleep. Instead of waking you up, smoke from a fire can put you into an even deeper sleep. A working smoke alarm will detect smoke and immediately set off to alert you. The alarm of the smoke detector may provide you and your family with the precious extra minutes that you need to escape, especially during the night when most fires occur.
Every year we hear unfortunate stories of entire families perishing because they didn’t have a smoke detector or because the smoke detector malfunctioned. By simply installing and maintaining your smoke alarms, the risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half.
Smoke detectors should be changed every ten years. Up to 80% of all dwellings in Canada have smoke detectors, but as many as a third of them may not work. Fire safety officials claim that the leading cause of smoke detector failure is a power source problem, primarily dead or missing batteries, since most detectors are battery powered.
Tips for testing and cleaning your smoke alarm:
- It is recommended that smoke alarms be tested each month. This can be done by pressing the test button for a few seconds; the alarm should go off immediately.
- The battery should be changed at least once a year, although, as a handy reminder, it’s recommended the battery be replaced twice a year at the same time the clocks are changed.
- It is recommended that models without test buttons and models that are more than 10 years old be replaced.
- To clean smoke alarms, which it is recommended be done twice a year, remove the cover and wipe it gently with a damp cloth. Gently vacuum the sensor unit inside. Test the smoke alarm after cleaning.
- Never paint a smoke alarm as this could inhibit the sensor and curtail its ability to detect smoke.
Ensure the safety and well-being of your family by contacting Electrical Pros for the installation of hardwired multiple-station smoke alarms at strategic and effective places in your home. 770-822-2150