Smoke detectors are a must in every home. The majority of fatal house fires occur at night while occupants are sleeping. Occupants are often overcome by toxic smoke and gases before they ever realize there is a problem. A properly working smoke detector can give an early warning, which can often make the difference between safety and disaster.

Where to install
At a minimum, there should be a smoke detector on every level of the home including the basement and also outside all sleeping areas. It is a good idea to have one in every bedroom, major hallway and living space as well.

Choosing a smoke detector
Detectors come in various types. Some simply require batteries, while others require an electrician to wire it into the home’s electric service. These often have battery backups. One of the key benefits to the wired detectors is that they can be wired together so that if one sounds, then all detectors sound. Home fire alarm systems monitored by a service operator (for a fee) that will summon the fire department automatically in the event of an alarm are also available.

Detectors work through several detecting methods: ionization, photoelectric or a combination of both. The combination style is recommended as it incorporates the best of both features. Contact your local dealer for more assistance in picking the right detector for your home.

If the alarm sounds
If your detector sounds an alarm, call 911 for a fire department response. It is helpful to know the difference between your alarm’s low battery warning and an actual emergency alarm, which will be explained in the manual accompanying your detector. The manual will also detail the routine maintenance which can keep your detector functioning properly. Smoke detectors have a functional lifespan and should be replaced when that time is up. Your manual will have that information.

The fire department recommends changing the batteries in all smoke detectors semi-annually. An easy way to remember this is to coincide with daylight savings time. Change your clocks, change your batteries.