1. Purchase detectors for every level of your home
Your house’s layout will determine how many detectors you need, but at a minimum you should install one on each level of the home, with at least one inside each bedroom and one outside of every sleeping space.
2. Promptly install your alarms in central locations
Install your smoke alarms as soon as possible—you don’t want to be spending any nights without the detectors’ protection.
Smoke detector installation
Place each alarm on a flat stretch of wall or ceiling, roughly in the centre of the room. For wall-placed devices, make sure that the detectors are about 12 inches or fewer from the ceiling.
3. Test your smoke alarms immediately after smoke detector installation
Once you have installed the smoke alarms, test the detectors out with everyone in the home. Press the test button on each device individually, ensuring that every person can easily recognize the sound of the alarm.
4. Perform power tests monthly
Though some smart detectors are self-testing, it’s generally a good idea to manually test your detectors at least once per month. To run a test, push the smoke detector’s test button, verifying that the sensor is operational and the alarm sounds at the optimal volume.
5. Replace non-hardwired detectors’ batteries annually
If your detector runs on batteries, don’t wait until you find the batteries dead to change them out. Instead, set an annual battery replacement date on a special occasion—the first day of summer or Memorial Day, for example. Picking a well-known date will help you remember the task. Always refer to the manufacturer’s guide and follow the instructions when replacing your smoke alarm’s batteries.
