How to Test Your Smoke Alarms and When to Replace Them

11/17/2018 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms are crucial to preventing fire deaths and injuries during a home fire. However, you need to maintain and test them regularly to ensure they're working properly at any given moment. Here are the steps involved in testing a smoke alarm in your home.

First, make sure everyone in your household test.

Have someone stand in the room farthest way form the alarm you are testing to ensure that the alarm is heard in all rooms of your home.

When everyone is ready, use a sturdy chair or ladder to reach the alarm. Locate the test button, then push and hold it for a few seconds to trigger the alarm.

In addition to testing your alarm manually, you should also check that the sensors are working. Use an aerosol smoke detector tester and spray it towards the alarm; it should go off after a few seconds.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that you should test your smoke alarms monthly and replace them every 10 years. Batteries should also be replace at least once a year.