Install at least one smoke detector on every level of your home, including the attic and basement. Even better is one in every bedroom. Smoke detectors are designed to wake you up if a fire starts while you are sleeping. Be sure your smoke alarms are near bedrooms and other sleeping areas of your home. Regardless of the size of your house or apartment there should be no less than two smoke detectors in every home.

Test

Battery-operated alarms should be tested once a month to make certain they are working. A good guide is to test your batteries every month. Do this by pushing in the button and holding it in until it beeps. Too high to reach? Use a broom or mop handle.

Change Batteries

Replace your batteries in your smoke detector at least once a year. We recommend you vacuum the vents on your detector and replace the batteries when you change your clocks for daylight savings time, either in the fall or the spring.

Replacement

Replace your smoke alarm every 10 years. After 10 years, your smoke detector will have been working consecutively for 87,000 hours. No other appliance in your home works this long. If you don't know how old your smoke detector is, or if the detector is 10 years or older, replace the alarm as soon as possible.