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Home & Garden Articles
Smoke Detectors and Your Family's Safety
Mon 07 Dec 2009 - 11:34
Smoke Detectors and Your Family's Safety
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Roscoe_G.]Roscoe G.
One of the least expensive and best types of protection you can buy for your home is a smoke detector. It is reported that a properly functioning smoke detector doubles your chance of surviving a fire in your home. It is a good plan to have a minimum of one smoke detector for every level of your home and in every bedroom or other sleeping area. Smoke detectors can be added nearly anywhere such as attics, basements, garages, and in hallways and stairways.
It is easy to install battery powered smoke detectors, and they are relatively inexpensive. Some brands beep, or give you other warning signs that the batteries are getting low. However, it is a good practice to check the batteries frequently, and replace them every six months on a date you can remember such as birthdays, holidays, or when daylight savings time starts and stops.
AC-powered smoke detectors are wired into your 110 VAC house electrical system. As such, they are considered more dependable than battery powered units. But, you need one with battery backup in the event of a power failure. The same rules for checking the batteries apply. This type of unit must be installed by a professional electrician. That is not to say you cannot do it, but you absolutely must know what you are doing and have experience working with electrical systems. Check your local laws and building codes. You also need to find out how it might affect your homeowner insurance coverage if anyone other than a certified electrical professional installs it.
To maintain either kind of alarm, test it once a month to make sure it is working and the batteries are good. Do this by pressing the test button. You can use a broom handle or something similar for extra reach. If everything is functioning, you will hear a loud beep or similar sound. If you do not hear anything, first replace the battery. If you still do not hear anything, replace the whole unit right away. Some units also have a solid or blinking light to let you know they are working and receiving power.
Another good test is to periodically make sure your alarm working properly by striking a couple of matches at the same time, blowing them out, and letting the smoke reach the detector. But, remember that this is going to set the alarm off. Be prepared for a loud, shrill sound, and know ahead of time from your user manual, or instructions how to turn it off if unless you want to wait until the smoke dissipates enough for the alarm to quit. That might take a while. Also, remember that if yours is the type of system that automatically dials an emergency phone number, it is going to generate an alarm. It is best to talk this over with your alarm monitoring company before testing in this manner.
Keep dirt and dust out of the unit with a brush or vacuum cleaner. This could be done four times per year. Do not use any cleaning sprays or solvents on your unit. They could damage it by contaminating the sensors. Replace smoke detectors after ten years.
Following the procedures outlined in this article, you can have confidence in your smoke detection system. You and your family will have immediate warning in the event of a fire, significantly improving your chances of getting out safely.
Roscoe writes about a variety of topics including hiking, music, and home improvement. Drop by his website at [http://www.chairliftforstairsreview.com]http://www.chairliftforstairsreview.com/ which helps people find the best [http://www.chairliftforstairsreview.com]chair lift for stairs for their needs.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roscoe_G. http://EzineArticles.com/?Smoke-Detectors-and-Your-Familys-Safety&id=3370580
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