Smoke and CO2 Detectors, Fire Extinguishers
Smoke Detector Tips
Maintenance
- Vacuum and test your smoke detectors monthly.
- Change detector batteries every sixmonths.
- To remember to change batteries, a good trick is to do so whenever you set clocks forward in the spring or backwards in the fall.
Placement of Smoke Detectors: Consider which areas of the house need protecting, which fire sources are the most dangerous, and how many smoke detectors are needed. There should be one smoke detector on each level of a home.
Sleeping Areas:
- Bedrooms need the most protection.
- Place at least one detector in a hallway outside bedroom(s).
- If the hallway is longer than 30 feet, detectors should be installed at each end of the hallway.
- Maximum protection is provided by a detector in each bedroom to supplement those in the hallway.
Living/Family Room: Keep detectors away from fireplaces or wood stoves to avoid false alarms.
Kitchen: Keep detectors away from cooking fumes to avoid false alarms.
Hall and Stairwell: Place unit at top of each stairwell and at each end of a long hallway.
Basement: Mount unit on ceiling at top of stairway, away from exhaust from furnace or water heater.