Is Your Smoke Detector System Updated?

4/5/2022 (Permalink)

Like most appliances, smoke detectors become old and need updating.

Smoke detectors save lives. A smoke detection system is crucial for keeping your family and home safe by warning you of a fire. A working smoke detector is especially vital when someone is sleeping. 

Unfortunately, breathing in poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and smoke causes more deaths than actual fires. In less than three minutes, a small fire can spread quickly, causing everything in a room to catch fire.

Like most appliances, smoke detectors become old and need updating. However, because this small device is inexpensive and can save your life, it’s worth ensuring that you have an updated smoke detector. 

However, the problem is that it’s easy to forget about this unobtrusive device. The last thing you want is for the smoke detector to fail when you need it the most. 

This article examines ways to know if your smoke detector system needs updating. 

How to Know if Your Smoke Detector System Needs Updating

There are two ways to know if you need to invest in a new smoke detection system. The first is age, and the second is signs of malfunction. Of course, it’s vital to regularly check the smoke detection system and replace batteries every year. 

Old smoke detectors need to be updated

You need to update your smoke detector system if it’s more than ten years old. This is because smoke detectors contain finely tuned parts. However, the delicate system in them deteriorates with age. 

Even though it may still work, an old smoke detector is prone to malfunction. For example, it could become less sensitive to smoke and may only sound the alarm when it’s too late. 

There is another reason to replace smoke detectors every ten years. Technology changes, and the chances are that modern, updated smoke detectors are superior to the old ones on your ceiling. 

So, ensure that changing smoke detectors every ten years is part of your home maintenance. 

The smoke detector sounds the alarm for no reason

Of course, a smoke detector that goes too often is better than not working at all. However, nuisance alarms from a smoke detector could be a sure sign it needs updating. But before you rush out to buy a new one, there are a few reasons it may be going off for no reason. Here are a few:

• Dust — Regular cleaning can keep the smoke alarm free from dust because the tiny particles could be causing a false alarm. 
• Connections — Check if the smoke alarm batteries need replacing. If you have a hard-wired smoke detector, ensure that the wiring is intact. Many sensors will sound the alarm if there’s no connection. 
• Steam or smoke from the kitchen — Install smoke detectors at a reasonable distance from the kitchen. This will help to avoid false alarms from boiling water or burned food. 

To ensure your safety, you need dependable smoke detectors that you can count on. Remember that your smoke detection system needs replacing every ten years. 

What if You’ve Experienced a Fire at Your Home? 

In that case, you need our Dallas fire damage restoration services. SERVPRO can mitigate the damaging effects of fire. This includes drying out your home, removing all traces of soot and smoke damage, and repairing our home to its pre-fire state. 

We can also assess your smoke detection system. Call us at (214) 272-7600 anytime, day or night for help ASAP.