Most home fire deaths happen between 10 o’clock at night and 6 in the morning.  Many victims die because of smoke and toxic gases, not the fire itself.  Smoke detectors can wake you and give you time to escape.  When purchasing a smoke alarm, look for one that is accepted by an independent testing facility, such as Underwriters Laboratories or Factory Mutual.

Location:

The best place for your smoke alarms:

     On every level of your home, including the basement and workshop

     Outside every bedroom

     On the ceiling or 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling on the wall.  Keep them away from air vents.

Testing:

Test the alarm batteries once a month

     Press the test button with your finger

     Replace the batteries once a year

Maintenance:

Clean the alarm following the manufacturer’s instructions.

     Vacuum the grill-work on the detector periodically to keep it dust-free.

Preventing Nuisance Alarms:

Move the alarm away from the kitchen or bathroom.

     Get a different type of smoke alarm, like a photoelectric that’s less sensitive to common causes of false

     alarms.

     Choose a smoke alarm that has a silencing feature, so nuisance alarms can be stopped quickly and

     easily.

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