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Public Safety Tip of the Day: Smoke Alarms

Test
When was the last time you heard your smoke alarm? Battery-operated alarms should be tested once a month to make certain they are working.

Change
Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm once a year. Experts recommend you do this each fall when we change our clocks to end of Daylight Saving Time. Install a new battery immediately if an alarm “chirps” to indicate a low battery.

A ten-year lithium battery smoke alarm does not need to have its battery changed. Replace smoke alarms that use extended-life, lithium batteries when the alarm “chirps” or fails to respond to periodic testing. The batteries in these units cannot be replaced.

False Alarms
Use the hush button to silence a false alarm. Never disconnect or remove the battery. If your smoke alarm does not have a hush button use a magazine or kitchen towel to wave fresh air into the detection unit

Replace
Replace your smoke alarm every ten years. After ten years, your smoke detector will have been working consecutively for 87,000 hours. No other appliance in your home works this long. If you do not know how old your smoke alarm is, or if it is ten years or older, replace it as soon as possible.