Like carbon monoxide detectors, a fire alarm system can save your life should your home or commercial property have a fire or smoke present. Smoke detectors are required by law and it is illegal to remove them from your home. It’s not enough to just have a smoke detector placed anywhere in your home, instead there are certain areas where they operate the best.
The do’s of smoke detectors
It’s important to know exactly how to use a smoke detector so you catch a fire right away. Here are the do’s of smoke detectors.
- Read the owner’s manual so you install the detector correctly.
- Do put your smoke detector on your ceiling and not on a wall or elsewhere
- Do put your smoke detector outside of bedrooms, in hallways, and near your kitchen
- Do make sure you have new batteries in your smoke detector, so it works
The don’ts of smoke detectors
Now that you know how to use a smoke detector correctly, it’s important to discuss what you should not do with one.
- Do not install a smoke detector on any appliance or door. It might sound smart to install a smoke detector to the side of your fridge or a cupboard but that’s not where they belong. They belong on the ceiling, so they can catch the smoke as soon as it rises.
- Don’t put a smoke detector in a room that’s known for being humid such as a bathroom. Instead, install the detector outside the room in the hallway.
- If you have an attic, keep that as a storage place. Smoke detectors do not work well in areas known to be full of dust or debris.
- Putting your smoke detector on your ceiling is the best place for it but not near a ceiling fan or an open skylight.
- If you have an area in your home that’s known for being really chilly, a smoke detector may not work well in that area. Common areas like this are porches, garages, or sunrooms.