Installing and maintaining a smoke detector may appear to be simple. However, there is some information that you should know about detectors that may save you some time and grief. Here is a list of the top 5 things that you should know: It's all about location. Choose a central spot in your home or choose a room that is used frequently by your family. If a problem should occur, your centrally located detector should quickly pick it up. If at all possible, you should install a detector in each bedroom, the living room, and the family room. When installing a detector in a room, choose a spot as close to the center of the room as possible. Never place an alarm near a door, window, vent, or fan as this may affect the way the unit works. Check the temperature. Never install a smoke detector when it is very warm and humid outside. According to Fire Prevention Canada (FPC), this can also affect how well the unit works. Check with a professional if connecting smoke detectors to the electrical system. Depending upon where you live, you may be required to connect your detectors to your home's electrical grid. This can be easy to do if you have some electrical experience. If not, you should contact an electrician for help. Remember to always keep working batteries in your detector in case the power goes out. This way, you will still be alerted if a problem should occur while the electricity is off. Proper maintenance is necessary to keep the alarms working properly. The batteries should be replaced in your smoke detectors twice a year or at the very least, annually. Although most detectors are designed to emit a beeping sound when the battery power is low, it is a good idea to make a habit of regularly replacing them anyway. According to the FPC, it is a good idea to replace the batteries at the same time each year. For example, you may want to replace the detector batteries each year on January 1st or each year on the first day of school. Besides making sure that the batteries are working properly, it is also important to keep the detector free from dust or other type of contaminants. This can also affect how well the detector is working. Replace detector units when necessary. Detectors have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years. At that point, they should definitely be replaced. After a certain amount of time, the effectiveness of the detector will decrease. You may notice that the detector beeps frequently even though fresh batteries have been installed, or you may notice that the detector goes off for no apparent reason at all. These are all clues that it is time to replace the unit. For more information on the lifespan of your detector, check with the manufacturer or look online. These tips should help you to properly install and maintain your smoke detectors. By doing so, you can help ensure the safety of your family should a fire occur in your home. Smoke detectors can alert you to a fire, but they won't extinguish them. Make sure that you have enough insurance coverage to replace all essential and non-essentials in your home. Steele & Ferraro Insurance Brokers are insurance brokers that work on your behalf, but are paid by the insurers, not you.
