Smoke Alarms Are a Vital Household Tool | SERVPRO of Evergreen Park/South Chicago City

5/14/2024 (Permalink)

Keep your home and business safe from fire with these helpful tips from SERVPRO of Evergreen Park/South Chicago City!

Smoke alarms are the unsung heroes of fire safety, providing early warnings that could save your life when flames erupt. While this tool can be a lifesaver, they won’t do you or your home any good if they aren’t used correctly!

To protect your Chicago home from flames, you must keep your smoke alarms in great shape. This can mean ensuring they are installed correctly or testing them regularly.

We put together a few ways you can keep your smoke alarms in tip-top shape so that if flames emerge, your first line of defense will be ready to go!

Keep your alarms in check. Smoke alarms aren’t something you can just set and forget! To ensure your smoke alarms work as soon as you need them, you’ll have to maintain them often.

To test your alarms, press the test button on each of your alarms once a month. If your alarm makes a loud sound, that means it’s functioning properly. If not, it might be time to change the batteries.

Switch out the batteries. Check the model of your smoke alarms to identify how often the batteries should be changed, if at all. To avoid needing to switch them out often, make sure to use long-lasting batteries. Many modern smoke alarms use self-contained batteries that last 10 years, with the entire unit replaced at the 10-year mark.

While you’re switching out the batteries, go ahead and give your alarms a good cleaning. Wipe away any dust and debris that could keep your alarms from functioning properly.

Proper placement is key. Correct placement is vital when you’re installing smoke alarms in your home. This will ensure your alarms go off no matter where flames emerge in your Chicago home.

Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, from your attic to your basement. Install them outside all the bedrooms in your home as well. If possible, install them in your bedroom.

The kitchen might be a hotspot for flames, but you’ll need to place your alarms correctly to avoid any false alarms while cooking. Don’t place alarms too close to your kitchen; instead, keep them at least 10 feet away. 

When flames spark in your happy home, SERVPRO is Here to Help®. Contact us for rapid restoration after a fire.