What You Need to Know About Smoke Alarms

2/15/2021 (Permalink)

Many people have no idea when they last replaced their smoke alarms or even whether or not they were installed properly.

Home fires are something that every person tries to avoid. While many people think that it is something that would never happen to them, the truth is that home fires occur much more often than people realize. Prevention is of course the most ideal aspect of home fire safety. Smoke alarms are a home’s most loyal ally when it comes to fire safety prevention efforts. According to research, the people inside of a home have less than 2 minutes to evacuate the household safely once the smoke alarm sounds off. This means that a specific fire safety plan is absolutely critical for every single family.

There are a few major points that a homeowner must realize when it comes to fire safety and smoke alarms. Some tips may seem obvious, but it would surprise you to know that many homeowners are completely unaware of some of the most basic smoke alarm safety tips. Keep the following things in mind to ensure your family and home are prepared:

• Replace the smoke alarms throughout the home every 10 years
• Test your smoke alarms once a month
• Replace your smoke alarm batteries once a year (with a 9-volt battery)
• Create a fire safety plan with your family and go over it once a year
• Once the smoke alarm sounds, everyone should know to exit immediately
• Smoke alarms are interconnected, so when one goes off all of them should start to ring
• Hesitation upon hearing the smoke alarm is often the key cause of injury and death in a home fire

Many people have no idea when they last replaced their smoke alarms or even whether or not they were installed properly. From replacing batteries to consistently checking functionality, it is imperative to be proactive when it comes to your home’s smoke alarms. At SERVPRO of North Palm Beach County, we are fire damage experts. Contact us today to learn more.