According to the National Fire Protection Association, almost three in five home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms (40%) or inoperable smoke alarms (17%).
Mistakes happen, but there are steps you can take to ensure your smoke alarms are working properly to keep your family and home safe.
1. False Triggers
Smoke alarms can sometimes annoy occupants with false alarms, leading people to question whether the annoying sound is based on a real threat.
Experts advise against installing smoke alarms near doors or ducts. "Drafts can cause false alarms, so keep detectors away from windows, doors, and vents, as they can disrupt the proper function of the smoke detector," Edwards says.
2. Installing Too Close to the Bathroom or Kitchen
While placing an alarm near a bathroom or kitchen may seem like a good idea to cover all ground, think again. Alarms should be placed at least 10 feet away from areas like showers or laundry rooms. Over time, moisture can damage an alarm and eventually render it ineffective.
For appliances like stoves or ovens, alarms should be installed at least 20 feet away because they can create combustion particles.
3. Forgetting about basements or other rooms
Basements are often overlooked and need an alarm. According to the Study in May 2019, only 37% of respondents said they had a smoke alarm in their basement. However, basements are just as likely to be at risk of fire.No matter where in your home you want your smoke alarm to alert you. As for the rest of the house, it’s important to have one in every bedroom, outside every separate sleeping area, and on every level of the house. Alarm requirements vary by state and region, so it’s best to check with your local fire department for current requirements in your area.
4. Not having interlink smoke alarms
Interlink smoke alarms communicate with each other and form an integrated protection system that can warn you of a fire no matter where in your home you are. For the best protection, connect all of the smoke alarms in your home.
When one sounds, they all sound. For example, if you are in the basement and a fire starts on the second floor, the alarms will sound in the basement, second floor, and the rest of the house, giving you time to escape.
5. Forgetting to maintain or replace batteries
Proper placement and installation are the first steps to ensure your alarms work properly. However, according to our survey, many people rarely maintain their alarms once they are installed.
More than 60% of consumers do not test their smoke alarms monthly. All alarms should be tested regularly and the batteries replaced every 6 months (if they are battery-powered smoke alarm).
Post time: Sep-12-2024
