Smoke Alarm Basics: What Every Homeowner Should Know

Smoke alarms are the single most important piece of fire safety equipment in your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half — but only if they're installed correctly and maintained.

Where to install them

Install a smoke alarm:

• Inside every bedroom where people sleep.
• Outside each sleeping area, in hallways leading to bedrooms.
• On every level of the home, including the basement.
• At least 10 feet from cooking appliances to reduce nuisance alarms.

Mount alarms high on walls or on ceilings — smoke rises, so a ceiling-mounted alarm will catch it first.

Testing and maintenance

• Test every alarm monthly by pressing the test button.
• Change batteries at least once a year — a good habit is to swap them when you change your clocks in the spring or fall.
• Replace the entire alarm every 10 years. Sensors wear out, even in hardwired models.

Interconnected alarms save more lives

If one alarm sounds in an interconnected system, they all sound. That means you'll hear the alarm in the basement even if the fire starts in an upstairs bedroom. Newer wireless models can be linked without any hardwiring — worth the upgrade if your home has older stand-alone units.

When to replace right away

Replace an alarm sooner than 10 years if:

• It chirps constantly even after a battery change.
• It fails a monthly test.
• It's been painted, damaged, or discolored.

A few minutes of maintenance every month is one of the highest-return safety habits you can build. If you're unsure how old your alarms are, look for the manufacture date printed on the back — if it's more than a decade old, replace it today.