Regularly checking smoke alarms is a basic part of home and building maintenance that will help keep your home or business safe. Smoke detector checks are a necessary and effective way to protect your building and the people in it from smoke and fire emergencies, and it doesn't take a lot of effort to keep yours working properly. Use the tips below to ensure your smoke detectors are up to snuff. To ensure the safety of your family and property from home or commercial fire or smoke damage.

Why Check Smoke Detectors?

There aren't many items in your home or office that can actually save lives in a fire emergency, but smoke alarms are one of them. In fact, residential fires are more than twice as likely to turn deadly in homes without working smoke detectors, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Providing as much time as possible to escape the premises is of paramount importance during a fire, whether it's a large commercial facility that takes extra time to evacuate or a small family home full of people who are fast asleep. In a fire emergency, working smoke alarms offer a critical early warning that can directly impact the survival of the people you care about.

Tips on Checking Smoke Alarms

While smoke detector technology is more advanced and reliable than ever, it's still important to inspect and test yours regularly. Follow these tips from the experts at ServiceMaster Restore to conduct a proper smoke detector check in your home or office. Enjoy everyday peace of mind knowing that you'll have essential, life-saving support when you need it most.

How Often Should I Check My Smoke Alarm?

Smoke alarms should be checked at least once a month. Devices can be tested by pressing the test button on the device to ensure they’re functioning. There are other methods to test a smoke alarm including a smoke detector tester aerosol spray and with smoke from extinguished matches.

Testing smoke alarms monthly is especially important if your property has valuables or family members who may require assistance to leave the area. Businesses will need to call an alarm professional to ensure the fire alarms are tested regularly and are up to code.

What Different Types Of Smoke Detectors Are There?

There are 2 commonly recognized types of smoke detectors: ionization and photoelectric detectors.

Ionization detectors contain a small amount of radioactive material between 2 electrically charged plates. This causes the air between the plates to ionize and a current flows as a result. When smoke enters the chambers of the alarm, this disrupts the flow of ions between the plates, triggering the alarm.

Photoelectric smoke alarms use a light source angled away from the alarm. When smoke enters the alarm, it causes the light to reflect back to the light sensor, which then triggers the alarm. These types of alarms are more responsive to smoldering fires such as those from unattended cigarettes which produce minimal amounts of flame but larger amounts of smoke.

Both types of smoke alarms are recommended to be used at home and are effective at alerting you to a fire. Some models today include both technologies that work to detect most types of fires that could affect your home or business.

What Should I Do If A Smoke Detector Malfunctions?

Prior to checking your device for smoke detector malfunctions, ensure there is no smoke or fire in the area. What may appear to be a false alarm may be a small fire that may go unnoticed. If no smoke or fire is in the vicinity, the device may have triggered a false alarm. Here are some of the most common reasons why a smoke alarm may malfunction and cause a false alarm:

• Wrong placement: Smoke alarms within 10 feet of the cooking appliance such as a toaster or oven may trigger a false alarm. Check to make sure the device is not close to a window, particles from outside may trigger the device as well.
• Presence of strong chemicals: If a smoke detector is near strong-smelling chemicals, such as those used during deep cleaning or home remodeling, this may cause the smoke alarm to go off. Remove the chemicals from the area and see if that addresses the false alarms.
• Steam or humidity: High humidity leads to moisture particles that may be confused for smoke. If your device is located near a bathroom or a device that emits steam, it may need to be moved to a different location.
• Dust, pollutants, or dirt buildup: Dust buildup interferes with the function of the device. Clean your device at least once a year using a vacuum brush or a wipe to ensure the sensors are clean.
• Insects: Insects can often enter smoke detectors and trigger it by blocking the sensors used to detect smoke. Open the device and check for bugs, if there are any, remove them and consider using bug spray or other insect repellants in the area to avoid similar issues in the future.
• Sensitivity is set too high: If your device is at least 10 feet away from cooking appliances and still causes false alarms, the issue may be due to the sensitivity of the device. Take care to only adjust the sensitivity if absolutely needed by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

If the device is still not responding or repeatedly going off after checking for the above, you may want to consider replacing the device. This is especially important for businesses. There are a variety of fire causes in businesses that may stem from a malfunctioning fire alarm, each with the potential to cause significant damage to your property or loss of employee or customer life. An alarm expert will be able to provide regular checks to ensure any malfunctioning equipment is replaced promptly.

Help Prevent Smoke And Fire Damage To Your Home Or Business

A fire can wreak havoc on any home or business. While the remediation professionals at ServiceMaster Restore are here to help you recover from smoke or fire damage to your home or business, it's up to you to ensure the proper safety procedures and equipment are in place to keep your family and co-workers safe in the midst of an emergency. Checking smoke alarms regularly and correctly is a critical, simple measure you can take to help save lives should the unexpected occur.