Know your alarms.
Five minutes here can save your sleep tonight, and maybe a lot more. The smoke detector and alarm facts every homeowner should know.
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The beep decoder:
Chirping, beeping, or going off for no reason? Here's what your smoke detector is telling you, and how to make it stop.
10
YEARS
Alarms expire. Really.
Every smoke alarm wears out after about 10 years, even hardwired ones, even if the test button still beeps. They are required by law to signal end-of-life by chirping every minute or two. The manufacture date is printed on the back of the unit.
Standards changed too: alarms built to UL 217 8th Edition or later are far better at ignoring burnt toast while catching slow, smoldering fires sooner. If yours predate it, an upgrade isn't a luxury, it's the difference between an alarm that is a nuisance and an alarm that silently protects your family.
Where alarms belong.
Most homes we visit are under-protected. Here's what full coverage actually looks like.
✓ Inside every bedroom
✓ At least one on every level
✓ CO protection near bedrooms
✓ In the hallway outside sleeping areas
✓ Near (not in) the kitchen
✓ Interconnected, so they all sound together
Not all alarms are equal.
Smoke detector and alarm reliability varies even within a single manufacturer. We only install hardwired and battery alarms that are extensively researched and tested for reliability to minimize your trouble over time.
Modern alarms that meet UL 217 8th or 9th Edition standards are designed to avoid false alarms and are better at detecting both smoldering and flaming fires.
Modern smoke detectors & alarms
Adds carbon-monoxide detection, the invisible risk from furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, water heaters, and attached garages.
Smoke + CO combo
The two-minute monthly habit:
✓ Press and hold the test button on every alarm once a month.
✓ Never paint over an alarm, and never "borrow" its battery.
✓ Replace batteries (if replaceable) once every year.
✓ Vacuum the alarms once a year. Dust and bugs cause false alarms.
✓ Walk your two-ways-out escape plan with the family twice a year.
✓ Schedule annual alarm maintenance with SMOKE ALARM EXPERTS.
Learn more...
Dig deeper and find answers to the most commonly asked questions about smoke alarms and fire safety.
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