Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post about smoke & CO alarm safety.
One thing that always gets pushed on my to-do list is anything related to my smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Unless it’s beeping I forget it’s there and don’t give it a second thought!
But did you know smoke and carbon monoxide alarms don’t last forever? Smoke alarms should be replaced at least every 10 years and when it’s time to replace them, upgrade to First Alert! When replacing, upgrade to First Alert’s 10-Year Sealed Battery Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms for convenient 2-in-1 protection, and to eliminate the need for battery replacements and late-night, low battery chirps for a decade.
Use the new year as a reminder to check your alarms and follow the fire & CO safety tips listed below.
Smoke & CO Alarm Safety Tips
Make Sure Your Alarms are Installed in the Proper Place
It may be a given that the smoke alarm goes on the ceiling but there are some specific do’s and don’ts.
Do’s: Install the alarm on the ceiling or high on the wall. If installed on the wall, it should be no further than 12 inches from the ceiling.
Do’s: Have smoke & CO alarms in every bedroom and every level of your house.
Don’ts: Install the alarm in garages, kitchens (especially near appliances), furnace rooms, or in any extremely dusty, dirty, or greasy areas. Also, don’t install closer than 20 feet from a furnace or other fuel-burning heat source or fuel-burning appliances like a water heater.
Don’ts: Don’t install in extremely humid areas or at least 10 feet from a bath or shower, sauna, humidifier, vaporizer, dishwasher, laundry room, utility room, or other sources of high humidity. Also, don’t place in an area that gets direct sunlight or is close to a light fixture.
Replace the Batteries
Did you know that you should replace the batteries every 6 months and test your alarms regularly? Don’t wait until the alarm starts chirping to check the batteries. Also, check the manufacture date on your alarms. As I said above, if it’s 10-years old or older, it’s time to replace it!
We hadn’t checked our smoke alarms since we moved in and three of ours were outdated! We replaced all of our outdated smoke alarms with First Alert’s 10-Year Sealed Battery Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms. This alarm provides 10-years of protection. It also eliminates the need for battery replacements and late-night, low battery chirps for a decade.
Have a Fire Safety Plan
Do you know what you and your family would do in case of a fire or CO emergency? My husband and I made a plan a while ago that in case of a fire, we would each grab a dog and go out the back door. Fur babies need an escape plan too in case of fire so don’t forget about them! You better believe Gatsby was watching me like a hawk while I installed this to make sure I was doing it correctly.
Every plan should include two ways out of each room and a meeting spot outside. A safe distance from your home, where everyone in your family knows where to meet. If you have kids and pets, it’s good to know who is going to grab who and the safest, most direct path to get to safety. If you have small children, it’s also a good idea to have fire drills at least twice a year so everyone remembers the plan. It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared!
What are your thoughts on fire & CO safety? Share with me in a comment below!
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