Ideally, the idea of installing smoke alarms should not even be discussed anymore. After all, they have already proven time and again that they are our first line of defence against fires, which could hit any home large or small. However, it is a sad fact that some home owners seem to not see how important having smoke alarms installed is, and they are exactly why this should be stressed over and over again.
Installing smoke alarms, however, is not the end of it as far as providing your home with security from fires is concerned. Smoke alarms, after all, are electronic devices that require maintenance. You can’t just install smoke alarms, forget all about them and still expect them to warn you of a fire at all times. You should check your smoke alarms regularly or they won’t be working properly enough to warn you of a fire should it actually occur.
Check the batteries
Smoke alarms are either powered by battery or by your home’s electrical system. If it’s the former, the battery could be a disposable 9-volts or a “long-life” lithium battery that has a 10-year life span. Batteries, however, could sometimes run out of power earlier than expected. Ideally, you should check the battery monthly to make sure it’s still doing its job. Replace the battery immediately if it doesn’t work anymore.
Know how old your smoke alarms are
Let’s say that you moved into your home with smoke alarms already installed. Do you know how old those smoke alarms are? Normally, smoke alarms have a 10-year life span. If you’re not too sure about the smoke alarms in your home, just replace them. If you have no idea which smoke alarms to buy, photoelectric smoke alarms are highly-recommended by Australian fire authorities.
Don’t turn off the smoke alarms when cooking
It’s understandably annoying and bothersome when your smoke alarm goes off while you’re cooking, but never make the mistake of deactivating it so you can work more peacefully in the kitchen. That’s because it would be easy to forget about activating it afterwards. Only turn it off when it goes off, and turn it on again when the smoke has cleared.
Register for smoke alarm reminders
Despite all warnings, millions of home owners still forget checking their smoke alarms. Thankfully, a national initiative that reminds people to check their smoke alarms has been launched. By registering for alerts at AlarmReminders.org.au, you will be receiving regular text messages or emails that remind you to check your alarm, change old batteries and replace expired alarms.
Smoke alarms can alert you and your entire household to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It doesn’t really matter what time of day. As long as you have smoke alarms installed in your home, they will always be scanning the air inside your home for smoke and fire. However, never forget to check your smoke alarms regularly to ensure they are working properly 24/7 and for a long time to come.