What To Know About Smoke Alarm Maintenance in Your Home

9/15/2020 (Permalink)

Maintaining a smoke alarm involves a few simple things

Smoke Alarm Maintenance

Many fire damage restoration services recommend smoke alarms as an important prevention measure as they can alert you to a possible fire in your Harrisonville, MO, in time to put it out. However, in order to do its job a smoke alarm must be properly maintained. Here are a few things you should know about this process.

1. What May Need To Be Done

When maintaining a smoke detector it’s important to understand what may need to be done. In most cases the process is as simple as keeping the unit clean so it can properly sense a fire, and changing the batteries annually.

2. When To Do Perform Maintenance Tasks

Most professionals recommend service your smoke alarm annually. Many people choose to do so at daylight savings as this day occurs at approximately the same time every year and is easy to remember. If a different time works better for you you can choose that day instead. It’s also important to keep in mind that most alarm units last for about eight years, so if your alarm is older than that you should replace it entirely.

3. How to Take Care of Your Alarms

Knowing how to maintain your alarms can be equally important as you don’t want to damage the electronics. The outside of the units can be wiped off with a damp cloth while the slides will need to be dusted out with compressed air. In some cases, the manufacturer will have additional instructions. After cleaning you may want to test the alarm to ensure it remains functional. You can do this by pressing the test button and listening for the appropriate sound.

Maintaining a smoke alarm involves a few simple things. Know what may need to be done with the smoke detectors such as batteries, cleaning, and installation locations. Understand that these tasks should be done at least once a year, and know what the best methods are to keep them maintained. Remember, a working alarm can help keep your home safe.