With the change of seasons, it's nearly time to change the smoke alarm batteries. Well, the seasons and the fact that I was "advised" by the wife to start getting Christmas stuff out (UGH!). Holidays usually consist of using electricity in ways it wasn't meant to be.
Where is that special outlet thingy so I can plug in 72 strands of lights?
I swear I had 12 extension cords last year, how can i make due with 10?
I thought I'd share a tidbit from my inspection report concerning smoke alarms.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms save lives, we all know that. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms at all or no smoke alarms that work. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast and you need smoke alarms to give you time to get out.
In order to save lives they need two things - power and a functioning sensor. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends replacement of smoke detectors every 10 years or sooner if they do not respond properly. (See all smoke detector safety tips from NFPA) Presumably, this is because the sensors will become less effective over time (they are mechanical and subject to failure).
It is beyond the scope of a home inspection to determine the age or sensor sensitivity of a smoke alarm. I recommend everyone change the smoke alarms at time of possession and at the interval recommended by the manufacturer. Smoke alarms are relatively inexpensive these days. Isin't that expense worth it to positively know that your smoke alarms are brand new? To me, it's much better than guessing how old they might be.
Some common smoke alarm tips:
- Install smoke detectors in each bedroom and on each floor of the home (follow manufacturers instructions).
- Interconnect smoke detectors so that when one sounds, they all sound.
- Use both ionization smoke alarms and photoelectric smoke alarms (or a combination alarm)
- Test alarms monthly by using the test button
- Change batteries twice a year
For a full list of smoke alarm tips, as well as general fire safety tips see www.nfpa.org
In this area it recently became mandatory to have smoke detectors hard wired on all new homes. Good info Rick. I'm not sure that the home owners are told that they still need maintenance.
Hey Rick,
Good info. Also, In my neck of the woods it is required to have a sprinkler system installed on all new residential construction.
Rumor is that sprinklers are soon to be required in Ohio.
I would add that a good time to change batteries is when you reset the clocks in the fall and spring. The Government gave you a great reminder system.
Also, replace smoke alarms if they are older than 10 years or if you just don't know how old they are. All things considered, replacing five smoke alarms at a cost of $100 or so is far better than losing lives or property because old smoke alarms don't work right anymore. Remember that everything has to die; it's just a question of when.
Never thought of replacing a smoke detector just because it was old but I guess it makes sense.
Great information Rick.
Have a great week!
Add carbon monoxide detectors to your home, too. Carbon monoxide results from combustion and is odorless, invisible, and tasteless, yet very deadly.
I always recommend having the smoke & carbon monoxide detectors hard wired in all of my reports.