Smoke Alarm Safety Advice

If you follow us on social media, you’ll know that every Tuesday we remind you that it is #TestItTuesday which means it’s time to test your smoke alarms. The message is simple – smoke alarms save lives, but they can only do so if they are in good working order and the only way to be sure of this is to test them regularly. So, we hope that this test, that takes just a minute or two, has become part of your weekly routine. We’d also encourage you to remind friends and family members and perhaps even offer to help if it’s difficult for them to do it themselves.

If your smoke alarms are up high and you’re not tall enough to reach just grab a broom or mop and use the handle to give that button a press. If the alarm doesn’t beep when you press it, it is time to replace the battery. We recommend keeping a spare of the correct battery type so that there is no delay in replacing it when needed.

As well as regular testing there are other things to consider when it comes to making sure that your smoke alarms are up to the job.

Buying the right smoke alarm in the first place – While you might assume that all smoke alarms are equal, tests carried out by consumer group Which?  show that some of the smoke alarms available to buy online can’t detect smoke and won’t go off in case of fire. So please take care that you are buying a product that is up to the job, particularly if you choose to buy online.

Having enough smoke alarms in your home – Many homes have only 1 smoke alarm and in most cases this simply isn’t enough. Remember that a fire could start anywhere in your home so at a minimum you need one on each floor, and ideally one in each room.

How long have your smoke alarms been around? Smoke alarms don’t last forever and should be replaced at least every ten years and sometimes sooner.  If your home was already fitted with smoke alarms when you moved in and you’ve lived there for over ten years it is certainly time to replace them. This applies to both hard wired and battery powered alarms.

In the current times we’re all likely to be spending more time at home. Please take the time to check your smoke alarms are correctly located and working as they should be. It’s an easy enough job that can literally save lives.

If you need any help or advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.