Fire and smoke inhalation cause thousands of injuries every day, and your smoke detector offers a crucial early warning that will keep your family safe—possibly even save your lives—so it makes sense to make sure it’s in good working order.
Smoke detectors are fairly reliable, but like any piece of mechanical equipment, they’re not infallible. Parts wear out and batteries die over time, so it’s important to routinely test your smoke detector and replace its batteries. The recommended frequency for testing your smoke detector is:
There are two main types of smoke detectors, both of which require routine testing.
Here’s how to make sure your smoke detector is working properly. The steps are slightly different depending on which type of smoke detector you have in your home.
Knowing there’s a smoke detector in your home may offer peace of mind, but just having a smoke detector isn’t enough. It is essential that you continually make sure that it’s working properly. You may never need it, but if you do you’ll be glad you did.