Getting Smart about Smoke Alarms

6/8/2018 (Permalink)

If you or a loved one has suffered from fire damage in your home, SERVPRO is here to help you recover from the tragedy.

Fire safety is often associated with tips to prevent fires from starting and steps to take in the event that a home fire occurs. Research shows that when a smoke alarm sounds off in a household, the inhabitants have less than 2 minutes to get out of the house for safety. This means that families must have a very specific plan of action when it comes to fire safety. We have discussed this in previous articles, but we have never spent the time to talk about something extremely important: smoke alarms.

Did you know that smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years? Did you know that smoke alarm batteries (9-volt battery) need to be replaced at least once per year? Did you know that smoke alarms should be tested every month? These types of facts are things that are rarely discussed yet are extremely essential for each and every homeowner. Having a smoke alarm properly installed in your home can literally be the difference between life and death. Reports from the U.S. Fire Administration point out that three out of five home fire death result from fire in properties without working smoke alarms. This speaks to the massive dangers linked to malfunctioning smoke alarms and just how critical is it to be on top of your alarms at home.

There are a few additional tips beyond replacing smoke alarms every 10 years and batteries every year that each person should know. First, when discussing your evacuation with your family it is imperative to enforce that as soon as an alarm sounds off everyone should exit. Hesitation in exiting the home when a fire starts is a common issue. Also, smoke alarms in your home should be interconnected, meaning that when one alarm sounds off, they will all sound off. In doing so, everyone in the house will be made aware of the fire no matter their location.

Finally, smoke alarm placement is key. Be sure to have a smoke alarm inside and outside of any and all sleeping areas and bedrooms as well as installing alarms on every level of a home. If you or a loved one has suffered from fire damage in your home, SERVPRO is here to help you recover from the tragedy. Contact our team of fire damage cleanup professionals to learn more about your restoration options today!