The only thing more important than the safety of our children is their health. And one way to ensure they’re safe from fire hazards is by making sure your smoke detector is working properly and installed by a professional. We all know that the peace of mind a smoke detector gives us is worth its weight in gold. But how do you know when it’s time for an upgrade? What if it’s too old and needs to be replaced? How long do they last? The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing your unit every 10 years, but many other factors come into play as well, including whether or not you have pets in the house (pet hair can cause false alarms). I bet you’re wondering, “How can I tell?” Well, here are some simple steps:
An Expiration Date Is a Deadline for The Effectiveness of Your Smoke Detector.
When was the last time you checked your smoke detectors? They have an expiration date and if it’s expired then they are not as effective. If there is no sticker inside of a battery compartment, that means it’s new so make sure to check the detector for one. One way people can ensure the effectiveness of the device is by checking their smoke detectors regularly- in order to find out when these devices were manufactured and making sure they haven’t exceeded their shelf life yet.
Your Smoke Detector Is Intermittently Going Off for No Reason.
It’s not uncommon for smoke detectors to go off from time-to-time, but a wise decision would be to replace it when they’re going off more often than usual.
One sign that your smoke detector is failing and may need replacement if the alarm goes on intermittently for no reason at all; as this can put you in danger of fire hazards or other dangers like carbon monoxide poisoning.
Smoke Detectors Randomly Chirp Even After Battery Replacement.
It’s not uncommon for smoke detectors to go off from time-to-time, but a wise decision would be to replace it when they’re going off more often than usual.
One sign that your smoke detector is failing and may need replacement if the alarm goes on intermittently for no reason at all; as this can put you in danger of fire hazards or other dangers like carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Test Button of the Smoke Detector Fails To Operate The Siren.
In order to maintain the functionality of your smoke detector, you should periodically test it by pressing the button on its face. When this fails to activate a siren sound from inside or outside the house then that is an indication that replacement may be necessary soon.
Smoke Detector Is More Sensitive.
When your smoke detector is more sensitive to cooking smells and humidity than it used to be, this may mean that the sensor needs a replacement. It’s time for a new one!
You may not have thought about it, but your home’s smoke detectors are a key component of keeping you and your family safe but they do need to be maintained and upgraded periodically. Smoke detector technology is evolving in leaps and bounds – if you upgrade now, you could get an advanced device with features that help protect against false alarms. Control Fire Protection offers expert advice should this be outside of what you’re comfortable tackling yourself!