How Often Should You Check Smoke Detectors?

Smoke detectors are now a necessity in homes, commercial buildings, and shopping malls as incidents of fires are quite rampant. They have wreaked havoc in the past and there is no guarantee when it will rage again. When it comes to residential buildings and homes, the safety of the people living there as a family is considered the most important requirement.

Smoke detectors and fire alarms are safety alerts in the event of any contingency. If there is dangerous smoke or fire that has just started, these devices alert you and ensure the timely and safe evacuation of the inmates.

Branded Smoke Detector Testers

Branded smoke detectors are often of good quality and do not need huge maintenance costs.  They can be ideally checked once a month and the overall maintenance needs to be done annually. The idea of checking these devices frequently is that batteries tend to die and other parts can wear out over time.

As it is an electronic device, it is prone to damage due to a variety of reasons and is never invincible. Smoke detector devices are usually covered under warranty for a specific period and beyond if repairs are not feasible, then the entire device needs to be replaced. By doing so, one can ensure that the family members are safe all the time.

Types of smoke detectors

Battery-powered detectors are quite widespread. However, the battery needs to be checked frequently. All you have to replace worn-out batteries with new ones just like we change the clock’s battery from time to time.  The wired smoke detectors are powered through the home electrical circuit but they also have a battery backup system in the event of power failure. They also need to be tested monthly as this helps ensure that both the parts and batteries are working properly.

Malfunction signals

Smoke detectors and fire alarm testing are usually reliable but they can still malfunction. If the smoke alarm starts giving out a low-power sound, then it means that the battery needs to be changed immediately. Smoke detectors should be located away from the kitchen area as they might give a false alarm during cooking.

Even after that if false alarms happen, then the device needs to be checked more frequently. On the other hand, if the alarm does not go off despite some smoke then one should check the device and ensure no dust or anything is blocking the grates. This can be the cause of malfunction even if the batteries are new.

When to replace the smoke detector?

Even after all the checking and maintenance smoke detectors tend to last only for about 10 years. With the latest and more efficient models manufactured frequently, it is advisable not to wait that long and upgrade it if money is not a constraint.

Conclusion

Smoke detectors are a valuable addition to any property. To maintain its efficiency, you must make checking of smoke detectors a part of the housekeeping routine. It takes only a few minutes to ensure that the devices are working properly.