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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