How Do I Make Sure My Smoke Detector Works?

You're twice as likely to safely escape a house fire if you have a working smoke detector, notes the Green Bay Press Gazette. Increase your odds of survival by learning how to work with your device. Checking it takes only a few minutes, but needs to be done throughout the year on a regular basis.

Instructions

- 1
  Read over the manual for all models of smoke detector in your house. You'll find model-specific instructions on how to test if the smoke alarm works, how to tell when it's time to change the battery and the "useful life" of the detector. It will also tell you how many years it can reliably be used.
- 2
  Test the smoke detector once each month, by depressing a "tester" button on the device that will activate the alarm. If your alarm does not sound, replace the battery and retest. If it still remains silent, replace it. Test the alarm by depressing the button instead of tying to create a smoke hazard, since this can backfire and be dangerous.
- 3
  Change your smoke detector batteries each time you turn your clocks forward or back to ensure you always have fresh batteries in the device. If at any time of year, the detector's low battery light or alarm comes on, change the batteries to ensure reliable performance.
- 4
  Replace your smoke alarms when they reach the end of their "useful life" to ensure their performance.

Smoke Alarm Won't Stop Chirping

Smoke Alarm Vs. Smoke Detector

Smoke Detectors