Smoke Alarms Safety, Maintenance & Tips

Test Your Alarms! Let's Hear it for Fire Safety

Since smoke and deadly gases rise, alarms should be placed on the ceiling at least 4 inches from the nearest wall, or high on a wall, 4-12 inches from the ceiling. This 4-inch minimum is important to keep alarms out of possible "dead air" spaces, because hot air is turbulent and may bounce so much it misses spots near a surface. Installing alarms near a window, door or fireplace is not recommended because drafts could detour smoke away from the unit. In rooms where the ceiling has an extremely high point, such as in vaulted ceilings, mount the alarm at or near the ceiling's highest point.

Maintenance is a Must

What good are smoke alarms that don't work? No good at all! That's why it is imperative that you keep your smoke alarms fit and in good shape. It's easy. Maintain your smoke alarms by:

• Whether your alarms are hard-wired or battery-operated, NFPA recommends testing them once a month to make sure they are operating. A working smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of dying in a home fire. Testing is the only way to ensure they are working to protect you. Test each alarm by pushing the test button and listening for the alarm. If you can't reach, stand under the alarm and push the test button with a broom handle.
• Replacing Batteries
  If your smoke alarms are battery operated, replace their batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions. NFPA recommends doing this at least once a year or when the alarm chirps, alerting you that the battery power is low. Replace the batteries immediately if you move into a new home. Make sure no one disables your smoke alarms by borrowing batteries for other uses. Everyone you live with should understand how critical it is to have working smoke alarms.
• Cleaning
  Just as you clean your home, your smoke alarms need to be cleaned. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions about cleaning. Cobwebs and dust usually can be removed with a vacuum cleaner attachment. If you are going to be doing work nearby that could send dust in the air, cover the alarm with a shield. Also, shield the alarm if you are painting around it, and never paint on it. Remove the shield promptly after work is completed.

Dealing with Nuisance Alarms

Regularly cleaning your smoke alarms and following the manufacturer's instructions may help stop "nuisance" or false alarms. If this doesn't stop them, install a fresh battery in the alarms giving nuisance alarms. Evaluate where your alarms are placed if the problem still persists. Cooking vapors and steam can set off a smoke alarm. If the alarm is near the kitchen or bathroom, try moving it farther away. If nuisance alarms continue, install a new smoke alarm.

No Substitute for Smoke Alarms

Fire protection in the home must start with smoke alarms. There are many other kinds of alarms which may be designed to detect such factors as high temperatures, rapid changes in temperature, and certain gases produced in fires. However, these alarms are not as effective as smoke alarms in giving the first warning when a fire breaks out. NFPA does not require heat alarms in homes, however, they may be used for optional extra protection in areas like kitchens, attics, and garages, where smoke alarms are susceptible to nuisance alarms.

Tests performed on the speed of warning given by smoke alarms and heat alarms for many types of typical home fires showed smoke alarms consistently give first warning -- often by enough of a margin to make a major difference in your chances of escaping alive. Smoke and deadly gas spread farther and faster than heat.

Contrary to popular belief, the smell of smoke may not wake a sleeping person. Instead, the poisonous gases and smoke produced by a fire can numb the senses and put one into a deeper sleep.

Smoke Alarms Are Cost-Effective

A battery-operated smoke alarm for the home retails for less than $10. Smoke alarms with extra features can cost up to $25. Batteries cost $1 to $2, depending on the brand. A smoke alarm for a typical hard-wired system costs $14-$18. Smoke alarms for people with hearing impairments cost approximately $100 each. In 1994, home fires caused $481,000 in damage every hour.

Now that you know the importance of installing and maintaining smoke alarms in your home, "Let's Hear it for Fire Safety: Test Your Alarms!" during Fire Prevention Week and every month.
"Let's Hear it for Fire Safety: Test Your Alarms!"

Smoke Detector Tips

• Replace batteries twice a year. If you choose the times that you have to change the clocks, you won't forget. Make it a family affair so the kids will remember how important the smoke detectors are.
• Make sure that your smoke detector is still in working order. Some need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years.
• If your smoke detector goes off because of a "false alarm" such as cooking, smoking, steam or dust, don't remove the battery. Fan the smoke away and open a window. You might forget to put the battery back in later and leave your house unprotected
• Install at least one smoke detector in the hall outside all bedrooms.
• Make sure you have enough smoke detectors for the entire house.
• Use only smoke detectors approved by an Underwriters' Laboratory or other recognized testing lab.