What You Should Know About Smoke Detector Maintenance
A Working Smoke Detector Saves Lives
We all like to think we are master chefs, professional hairstylists, and DIY experts, but that doesn’t mean every project is going to work out the way it was planned, and sometimes simple tasks can quickly become safety hazards.
From burning the cookies and leaving the hair straightener plugged in to causing a short-circuit with your homemade e-skateboard, your smoke alarm should be able to pick up on any excess smoke indicating a potential house fire.
Let’s Talk About Electrical Safety at Home
At MMi Electrical, keeping your home safe is our top priority, which is why we stress the importance of keeping your electrical system in good working order. This includes watching for damage to your electrical outlets, electrical cords, and other electrical equipment like the smoke alarm in your home.
Did you know that smoke detectors expire every 10 years? In some cases, your smoke alarm can stop working even earlier, rendering it useless in the event of a house fire. To keep your home safe for years to come, keep an eye on your detector and check out the MMi Electrical blog for additional electrical safety tips.
The Importance of Routine Smoke Detector Maintenance
A simple way to practice smoke alarm safety is to keep up with a maintenance routine! Not only will taking care of your detector help maintain its functionality, but it also helps to make sure you don’t void the equipment’s warranty in case of emergency repairs or replacement.
We recommend vacuuming and dusting out your smoke detector as part of your regular home cleaning checklist so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing you and your family will be alerted if any electrical hazards are serious enough to spark a smoke alarm. Here are a few more tasks to add to your maintenance routine:
Replace your devices every 10 years (you should have one on every floor of your home).
Keep your devices out of reach from children so it doesn’t become the focus of their next arts and crafts project.
Test your devices once a month to make sure an alarm is still triggered at the first instance of smoke.
Make sure electrical wires, electrical cords, and circuit breakers are organized, protected, and away from potential hazards that could cause an electric shock or spark a flame if tampered with.
Be mindful that electrical appliances are not left on too close to your detectors, especially if they are prone to producing smoke from time to time, to avoid triggering false alarms.
Don’t Forget about Smoke Detector Battery Replacement
It may feel like a tedious task, especially if you need to pull out the ladder to reach your detectors, but it is important to replace the batteries in your smoke alarm detector once a year to make sure your smoke detector is always on and charged up.
Keep the manufacturer’s instructions handy as they will walk you through how to change your device’s batteries. If you can’t find the manual, call us at MMi Electrical and we can do our best to walk you through the process for your device!
Home Electrical Safety is our Priority
Our mission at MMi is to make your life easier by creating a safer home for you and your family with trusted electrical solutions.
If smoke detector maintenance is low on your priority list, we recommend becoming a member of our MMi Electrical Safety & Savings Plan! For only $14.95 per month, our enthusiastic team of licensed electricians will take care of your electrical equipment, including your smoke detectors, for your peace of mind.
We will dust and vacuum out your detector, check and replace the batteries when required, test your smoke alarm capabilities, and recommend any electrical services that could improve your electrical system’s safety.
Smoke Alarm Maintenance Services in the Edmonton Region
Trust MMi Electrical to keep your home safe from harm in St. Albert, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, and other surrounding areas. If you would like to learn more about how we can evaluate your home’s electrical safety and equipment functions, give us a call or send us an email today to book your free home electrical safety evaluation!