Are Your Smoke Detectors Working?
Don’t underestimate the value of a smoke detector. When it comes to a house fire, your life may depend on it. You only have minutes to escape a house fire. It is a known fact that working smoke alarms save lives. More than 2,200 people die each year because of unintentional home fires. Almost two-thirds of these fire deaths occur in homes with smoke alarms that don’t work or don’t have any smoke detectors installed in their home. A smoke alarm’s warning can cut the risk of dying from a fire in your home by almost half.
A Smoke Detector Can Save Your Life.
Safety Tips for Smoke Alarms:
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- It is recommended that smoke alarms are installed on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms.
- Test all smoke alarms in your house once a month.
- Replace smoke alarm batteries at least annually, such as when resetting clocks in the fall or spring.
- Do not place a smoke alarm too close to a kitchen appliance or fireplace, as this may result in nuisance alarms.
- Never leave cooking equipment unattended.
- Avoid locating alarms near bathrooms, heating appliances, windows, or ceiling fans.
- Have a professional inspect your electrical wiring, fuse box, heating, cooling, and wired appliances annually.
- Replace smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old. Smoke alarms don’t last forever.
- Inspect electrical cords for signs of wear, cracks, or age, and keep lighting away from combustibles.
- Develop and practice a fire escape plan, because working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan will increase your protection in case of a fire.
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Depending on your home, smoke alarms can be powered in one of several ways.
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- House wiring
- House wiring with battery back-up
- Replaceable batteries, such as 9 volts
- Sealed long life batteries; smoke alarms are disposed of after 10 years.
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Interconnected smoke alarms may offer quicker escape time and improved audibility.
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- Hard-wired interconnected smoke alarms can be found in most homes built after 1989.
- Wireless interconnected smoke alarms are an alternative for older homes using single-station smoke alarms.
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Don’t put yourself, your family, and your home at risk. Amps & Volts Electric have experienced, licensed electricians that will check and install your smoke detectors.