Resource Center | Smoke Detectors
Most home fire deaths happen in the middle of the night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. A smoke detector can save your life by waking you and giving you time to escape. When purchasing a smoke alarm, look for one that is accepted by an independent testing facility such as Underwriters Laboratories or Factory Mutual.
| Location, Testing and Maintenance |
The best place for your smoke alarms:
- On every level of your home, including the basement and workshop
- Outside every bedroom
- On the ceiling or on the wall, 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling. Keep detectors away from air vents.
Check the alarm batteries once a month by pressing the test button with your finger. The batteries should be replaced once a year.
You should clean the alarm by following the manufacturer’s instructions. The grillwork on the detector should be vacuumed periodically to keep it dust-free.
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| Preventing Nuisance Alarms |
To prevent false alarms, move the detector away from a kitchen or bathroom. You may also want to consider purchasing a smoke alarm, like a photoelectric, that’s less sensitive to common causes of false alarms. Some smoke alarms also are equipped with a silencing feature, so that nuisance alarms can be stopped quickly and easily.
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