Smoke Alarms: Everything You Need To Know

We have consulted the experts and here’s what you need to know. First off, The Ontario Fire Code  requires every home to have one or more working smoke alarm(s). Knowing that, let’s get down to the specifics. Where they should be installed, what kind you should have and how to maintain them so that you can keep your family safe and sound.
 
Location, location, location
➡️Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of the home, and preferably in every bedroom.
➡️Depending on the age of your home smoke alarms may also be located inside each bedroom as well.
 
Smoke alarms have come a long way.
➡️There are two types of fire alarms: photoelectric & ionization alarms. 
➡️Using a combination of units gives you the best form of protection.
➡️Generally, a photoelectric smoke alarm will not cause problems near the kitchen area.
➡️Consider interconnected alarms, when one sounds, they all sound. There are both battery-operated and hard-wired options.
 
Maintaining smoke alarms
👍🏼If your fire alarm starts chirping, immediately change the batteries and test it to make sure it’s working.
👍🏼You should test your smoke alarms once a month. When you press down on the button the alarm should sound. If it doesn’t, change the batteries, if that doesn’t work, replace it. If there is no button, you need a new alarm, yours is outdated.
👍🏼The batteries should be replaced twice a year. Make it a habit to change the batteries on daylight savings which is November 7th this year & then on March 13, 2022.
👍🏼Every two years you should take off the cover, wipe it with a damp cloth, vacuum the unit and then once the cover is back on, test it to make sure it’s still working.
👍🏼Newer smoke alarms have 10-year lithium batteries, so the unit needs to be replaced when the batteries expire. This includes hard-wired units, some only have 5-year life expectancies.
 
Fire safety also depends on every member of the household knowing what to do and having an escape plan. If you do not have an emergency plan, take a few minutes to create one today.
 
Here are some great resources:
Get prepared A Sound You Can Live With
Toronto.ca: Smoke alarms