One of the smartest things any home owner can do to protect their families from fire and carbon monoxide poisoning is proper smoke detector placement. We all know that having a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector installed in our home is the best possible way to alert people of a potentially life-threatening issue. However, if you’re looking to install new smoke detectors, knowing where to place them inside your home is half the battle.
Tips You Want To Know About Your Home Smoke Detectors
Know the Rules about Installing Smoke Detectors
Although these are not rules that will find you in trouble with the law, these are rules that might save somebody’s life. Here are a few things you should always consider when you’re looking to install any new smoke detectors.
- It is critically important to install smoke alarms on every level of a house. This includes the basement as well. According to Federal New Home laws, all new houses built are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all of the smoke detectors must be interconnected to each other.
- It’s a good idea to have your smoke alarms hardwired through a constant power supply by a certified electrician. This is especially helpful for home owners that have people who sleep with their doors closed. This way, when one alarm sounds, they all will sound and alert everybody inside the home.
- Always mount smoke alarms on ceilings or on top of a wall. If you install a smoke detector on a ceiling, make sure it is installed at least 4″ from the nearest wall. And if you install a smoke detector on a wall, it needs to be at least 4-12″ from the ceiling.
- Do not install smoke alarms near any windows, doors or air ducts vents.
- Finally, never paint a smoke alarm. Any paint or stickers or other decorations that are placed on a smoke alarm will impact the function of this life saving device.
Always Replace Smoke Detector Batteries Every Six-Months
If the smoke detectors inside your home are not hard wired into the houses electrical system, it’s a great idea to replace your batteries in the smoke detectors every six months. The last thing you want to happen is to have a fire start or carbon monoxide fumes leaking inside your home with a non-functional smoke detector. One tip that applies to virtually everybody else, except Arizona is to change your smoke detector batteries when you change clocks in spring and fall. However, since we don’t do that in Arizona, it’s always suggested that you pick a weekend each year to accomplish this very important task.
Proper smoke detector placement and maintenance is something that could save a life – or several. If you’re building a new home, or need to replace your smoke detectors inside your home, follow the above tips to help ensure your home and family is as protected as possible.