What You Need To Do About Your Smoke Detectors

By Author: Tom Buchanan
Total Articles: 36
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Unfortunately, less than half a million home fires take place annually, taking thousands of lives and millions worth of properties and investments each year.

No matter where you are, protecting your home and family against fire is an essential and practical thing to do. Some people go as far as having fire insurance policies for their property, but expert residential electricians say that having a well-maintained electrical system is a better way to do it. If you want additional protection, you can hire a Calgary electrician to install smoke detectors and fire alarms.

If you have one at home or you're thinking about hiring an electrician to install fire alarms for you, do your best not to commit these mistakes with your smoke detectors:

#1 Paying no attention to battery replacement is a big no-no for your smoke detectors. Ideally, these batteries should be replaced at least once every 12 months, if not more often. These batteries like most batteries can deteriorate and damage the receptacles ...
... and unfortunately when this happens, you would need a new unit installation.

If your smoke alarm contains non-replaceable batteries, they may continue to be effective as long as their batteries last, which is anywhere between eight and ten years. (Typically, smoke detectors last this long and must be replaced immediately after this threshold.)

#2 Ignoring monthly reliability evaluations. Even if batteries are new, you need to maintain your smoke alarms according to the manufacturer's instructions each month to maximize your safety. There's a test button you can use to perform this monthly check. If your smoke detector does not operate as expected, replace the unit immediately.

#3 Installing a single type of smoke detector throughout the house. While it is true that you should have an electrician install at least one smoke detector on each level of your home, it is strongly advised to mix the two types of alarms available for maximum protection. Photoelectric sensors can detect fires that burn slowly without any visible flames, while ionization alarms are more receptive to flaming fires. If you want a unified system installation, go for dual sensors.

#4 Placing smoke detectors in the wrong areas. Some people who are gifted with handiwork often end up installing their own smoke alarms. This may sound cost-efficient, that is if you can do what electricians can do, without leaving any important detail behind.

Some DIYers end up placing their alarms in areas where steam and fumes are abundant, such as kitchens, fireplaces, and laundry areas. Lack of technical know-how and expertise also cause homeowners to place their smoke alarms near ventilations, which can minimize the efficiency of the sensors.

Smoke alarms are important factors when maintaining your home fire-free, or at least reduce the adverse effects if there any. As much as these sensors care for your house, they need maintenance, too. If you're thinking about having a few units installed at home, check Homestars for a qualified electrician to do the work on your behalf.