Smoke alarms are a very important part of any home fire safety plan, being an early warning to help your family escape from a fire. And although you likely have smoke alarms in your home, are you sure that they are working properly?
In addition to replacing the batteries at least once a year or when the smoke alarm is making a 'chirping sound', it is also important to test them each month.
Do you know the best places for smoke alarms in your home?
Smoke alarms should be installed:
- either on the ceiling or 6-12 inches below the ceiling on the wall
- away from air vents or registers and high air flow or 'dead' spots, such as at the top of a peaked roof, or in corners between ceilings and walls
- outside the bedroom areas
- on each level in the home
- in each sleeping room
- away from the kitchen or bathroom to prevent nuisance alarms
