Home Fire and CO Detector Testing & Maintenance
By Owen Whetzel
You should have both fire and carbon monoxide (CO) or combination (detect both) detectors, also called alarms, in your house. According to Michael J. Karter, Jr., a senior statistician with the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Fire Analysis and Research Division in "U.S. Fire Loss for 2008," (NFPA Journal, September/October 2009), in 2008 there were nearly 403,000 home fires in the U.S., resulting in over 16,500 injuries and 2,775 deaths. Karter writes, "Home fires account for 83 percent of all civilian fire deaths, which is why fire-safety efforts aimed at the home are key to reducing the overall fire death toll."
In addition, hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances.
All fire and CO detectors, whether battery powered or wired into a home's electrical system, require periodic inspection, testing and cleaning. Here are some tips on detector testing and maintenance.
u Test all detectors weekly. Bi-weekly is often a difficult to remember sequence and monthly is not often enough.
u If a detector is battery-operated, get in a habit of replacing the battery or batteries, even if they test fine, when you set the clock back to Daylight Saving and when you set it ahead to Standard time. When replacing batteries, write the date on each new battery with a permanent felt tip pen. Or write the date on a label and affix it to each battery. If a detector starts "chirping" or making noise, this is usually an indication that the batteries are weak and must be replaced. (There may be other causes of "chirping" or noise. See the owner's or user's manual, that came with the detector or contact the unit's manufacturer.)
u Never remove old or dead batteries and then leave a detector without new batteries. Have batteries in hand, when you remove the old ones or you risk forgetting that the device is without power.
u If a detector, that is wired into your home's electrical system fails, first make sure the circuit is on. If there is power to the unit and it still won't function, turn off the power and troubleshoot the problem. Not comfortable working with electricity? Hire a licensed, qualified electrician.
u Vacuum detectors every three months using a soft brush attachment. If you must wash the cover, use a clean cloth, dampened (not soaked) with clean water and then dry with a lint-free cloth. Never immerse a smoke detector in water or spray cleaner on it.
u To test each unit, follow the instructions in the owner's manual, or those printed on the detector cover or base. If you need a new manual, the manufacturer will send you one. If how to contact the manufacturer isn't on the detector, it can usually be located through a Web search or the "Thomas Register." In addition, many libraries also have a brand name directory, such as "Brands and Their Companies," published annually by Gale Research. Another resource is your local fire department.
u If your detectors are difficult to reach and you have difficulty changing batteries or testing the units, consider replacing them with wired units or units, that can be tested using a flashlight or audio/video remote control.
u Never paint a smoke or CO detector. Remove each battery-operated unit from a room or securely wrap units in clear plastic kitchen wrap while painting. This will keep paint spatters and spray dust from entering the device.
u The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) advises replacing smoke alarms every ten years and replacing carbon monoxide (CO) alarms every five years.
Additional questions on smoke and CO detectors, as well as home fire safety should be directed to your local fire department.
Suggested reading:
"Product Safety Tips: Smoke Alarms" on the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) Web site
"Smoke Alarms" on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Web site
"Carbon Monoxide Alarms FAQ" on the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) Web site
"Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning" on the
U.S. Environmental Protection Association (EPA) Web site