One of the devices in your house that you probably take for granted is a smoke detector. You most likely have no idea it’s there. Unless, of course, it’s setting off an alarm or producing that grating chirping sound that indicates the battery needs to be changed.

The reality is that one of the most important appliances in your home is your smoke detector. In an emergency, it can alert you to a fire so you and your family have enough time to run for safety. These little machines, however, require some very fundamental regular maintenance in order to function. Learn the details you need about testing your smoke detectors.

No electronic gadget is immune to damage. Over time, batteries run out and smoke detectors lose their effectiveness. Performance might be impacted by dirt and dust as well. Your detectors’ batteries need to be changed and checked frequently. In fact, it’s a good idea to change the detector’s batteries every time the clocks change in the spring and autumn, if one is equipped with them. The batteries in some more recent detectors are long-lasting and never need to be changed.

How Often To Check Them

Putting your smoke detectors on a regular maintenance plan is a certain method to stop them from chirping in the middle of the night and keeping you up. By doing it this manner, you can ensure that the batteries are changed and the device is working before anything goes wrong.

The U.S. Fire Administration advises that you test your smoke detectors once a month. Other publications, however, assert that you should examine them twice a year, or nearly every six months. Regardless of the approach you use, scheduling your checks is the simplest way to stay on top of them. 

Consider the beginning of the month if you conduct them monthly. Checking when daylight savings time starts and finishes is a simple method to keep track if you check less regularly.

Smoke detectors should be installed in or close to every bedroom and sleeping space, as well as on every level of your house, including the basement. Make careful to test every detector in your house, regardless of the testing schedule you choose.

How to Check Them

Thankfully, testing your smoke detectors is a rather easy procedure. Smoke detectors come in three main types: hardwired, lithium battery driven, and battery operated. Make sure you know which type is in your home before you inspect anything.

The majority of smoke detectors use 9-volt batteries for electricity. Climb on a step stool, take off the detector’s plastic cover, put in a new battery, and push the test button to verify these. If you hear an alert, all is well.

Even though they are connected to your home’s electrical system, smoke detectors still contain backup batteries to make sure they function even if there is a power outage. Similar to those using 9-volt batteries, they should also be tested. If the battery has to be replaced, press the test button.

If your smoke detector uses lithium batteries, you won’t need to change them very often. However, you must ensure that you replace the complete unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions by checking yours.

Another essential point to remember is that most smoke detectors have a limited lifespan of 10 years. Remove the units from the ceiling and look for a date stamp on the back while doing your tests. To make sure the detector functions effectively, you must replace it by this date, if not before. Make sure everyone in your home is informed before you do any testing, and secure any animals that could be startled by the noise.