Answers to Common Questions About Smoke Alarms

3/18/2021 (Permalink)

You should keep one smoke alarm in every bedroom and on each floor of your Diamond Bar, CA, home.

Common Questions About Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are invaluable parts of any household. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 60 percent of home fire deaths occur in properties without a working smoke alarm. Here are answers to common questions about smoke detectors.

1. How Many Detectors Do You Need?
Fires can be particularly dangerous at night when everyone in the home is asleep. To make sure each member of the household hears the alarm, one should be placed inside every bedroom and outside of every sleeping area. At least one smoke detector should also be put on each level of your home, including the attic and basement. You may want to install additional detectors if your house is particularly large.

2. How Often Should You Test and Replace the Alarm?
Malfunctioning smoke detectors are essentially useless. You should thus test every smoke alarm at least once a month. Just push the test button on the detector and make sure the device beeps.
Most smoke detectors last approximately 10 years. Check the manufacturer date on the back of each alarm to find out when you need to replace it.

3. What Do You Do When the Alarm Sounds?
If you hear the detector beeping, get out of the house as soon as possible. Everyone in your family should get to a safe meeting place outside the premises. Once you are there, use your cell or a neighbor's phone to dial 911. You may also want to contact fire cleanup specialists who can restore your home and remove any lingering odors.
Ideally, you should keep one smoke alarm in every bedroom and on each floor of your Diamond Bar, CA, home. Each of these detectors should be tested regularly to ensure they are functioning properly. The alarms should be completely replaced every 10 years. This should keep your family safe and prevent severe fire damage to your property.