When working properly, smoke alarms can mean the difference between life and death in a fire.

• A smoke alarm with a dead or missing battery is the same as having no smoke alarm at all, so test your smoke alarm monthly by pushing the “test” button.

• Even if your smoke alarm is hard wired the battery should be changed.

• Place smoke alarms inside or near each sleeping area and on each level of your home, including the basement. Remember the garage too.

• Make sure that everyone in the home knows the sound of the alarm and what to do when they hear it.

• Develop an escape plan knowing two ways out of every room with safe meeting point.

• Replace your smoke alarm every 8-10 years; aging smoke alarms do not operate efficiently, and are a cause of nuisance alarms.

• There are alarms made to meet the needs of people with hearing disabilities. These alarms may use strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate to assist in alerting those who are unable to hear standard smoke alarms when they sound.

Call us if you have any questions that we may help you with your smoke detector! We are here to help.

Smoke detectors should be

• In the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms

• In all bedrooms

• In each story of a dwelling unit, including basements and cellars, but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics

• In residential units of 1,200 square feet or more, automatic fire detectors, in the form of smoke detectors shall be provided for each 1,200 square feet of area or part thereof

• Any smoke detector located within 20 feet of a kitchen or bathroom containing a tub or shower must be a photoelectric type