Make Sure You Can Rely on Your Smoke Detectors | SERVPRO® of Piscataway

Having smoke alarms properly installed in your home is one of the biggest ways to reduce your risk of fire-related injury or death in the home.

An operational smoke alarm system will alert you and your family members immediately if a fire breaks out—giving you far more time to escape and allowing you to call for the fire department much more quickly. To stay safer and reduce the damage to your home a fire can cause, be sure to follow the tips below:

Check and Replace Smoke Detectors on Schedule

Every smoke detector manufacturer has different guidelines, but it is generally recommended to check smoke detectors every 30 days. Not only can the batteries in the unit die with time, but even if you have a hardwired model, there are other parts that can fail as well.

It is important to never use smoke or an open flame to test your smoke detector—each unit is equipped with a test button that will sound a brief alarm, which is what should be used. Additionally, most smoke alarm models have a lifespan of about 10 years, so after this amount of time has passed, replace all the units throughout the household even if they still appear operational.

Consider an Interconnected System

While the majority of smoke alarms function as an independent unit, installing an interconnected system is quite a bit safer. With interconnected smoke alarms, when one detects smoke, every alarm throughout the house will sound.

This ensures that the entire household will be alerted of a fire in a timely manner, instead of only alerting those in the immediate area.

Having any smoke alarm is better than nothing, but there are quite a few places in the home that can benefit from having one installed.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas and near common areas such as dens and living rooms. Smoke alarms should also be installed in the basement or garage, if applicable.

Experiencing a fire in your home can be traumatic, but we are always here to help you restore. Call us 24⁄7 to begin the process.