Managine Smoke Detector Power

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

Control The Smoke Detector's Power

Keep your home in San Carlos, CA, free from fire hazards by maintaining and monitoring your smoke alarm systems. Read on to glean a few tips related to these important home devices.

1. Source

Know the power source of your chosen model of smoke detector. Some models can be wired directly to the wall, and thus will run on your home’s electrical system. Others use replaceable 9-volt batteries or non-replaceable lithium ion power sources. Some detectors may combine both of these methods as a backup in case of home power failure. Regardless, you should test the units each month to ensure that they are fully functional. If the device is blinking or beeping, this may be an indicator that the unit has insufficient power.

2. Age

Smoke detectors are not built to last forever. Both ionization and photoelectric alarm types suffer from reduced effectiveness as they age. A typical smoke alarm will only last for about ten years. Luckily, they are inexpensive to replace, typically costing less than $20. A wide selection of models is available at your local hardware or department store. Examine the date of manufacture on the back of the unit to determine an appropriate time to rotate out your set of detectors.

3. Safety

By maintaining your smoke detection systems, you can prevent fire damage and loss of life. Many residential fires occur while most people are asleep, so it is extremely important to have an automated system in place to alert friends and family to fire hazards. The risk of health and property damage from fire goes down substantially when smoke detectors are well-distributed throughout the house, especially if they are connected to activate one another when any single unit detects smoke.

By taking care of your smoke alarm setup, you can prevent physical harm to your occupants and damage to your home that could require costly professional fire restoration.