Installing a smoke detector in your home is one of the wisest decisions you will make in terms of the safety of your house. Smoke sensors are vital and can save lives.
It is necessary to know if you have the right number of smoke detectors according to the size of your house. Smoke detector batteries also need replacement from time to time to remain safe.
Their proper placement and installation also play a role in saving homes from fires. However, what we often fail to notice is smoke detectors need replacing.
While they are crucial for your house’s safety from threats of fire, they also come with an expiration date.
Often people remember to replace their smoke batteries regularly. However, neglect to notice whether their smoke detectors need replacing too. This is important yet neglected.
Why do smoke detectors need replacement?
It is necessary to understand why smoke alarms need replacing.
Before I start discussing how often they need replacing, it is essential to know the reasons.
As time passes, the effectiveness of smoke alarm sensors ultimately degrades in quality.
In a couple of years, the quality degrades so much that the smoke detectors become unfit for use.
Mostly, dust gathering inside smoke alarms desensitizes the sensors. This reduces their lifespan.
Replacing them when they no longer serve their purpose is as important as installing a new smoke detector in a home.
Continuing with a smoke detector that is no longer working, is equivalent to living without a smoke detector.
Whether you have wired or wireless, both types of smoke detector alarms need to be replaced.
Now coming back to the main topic...
How often do smoke detectors need replacement?
- Replace the smoke detector if it is 10 years old. Even if it seems to be working just fine, make sure to replace the smoke detector every 10 years.
- Replace the alarm if it is no longer audible, even after batteries are changed.
- Replacing them is necessary when the smoke detector alarm does not alert even after batteries are new. That is why testing smoke detectors for proper functioning is crucial. Smoke detectors need to be tested at least once a month.
- For some smoke detectors, the sensors start losing their sensitivity even before 10 years. Replace such detectors even if they are not 10 years old.
- The easiest way to keep track of the date when the smoke detector needs to be replaced is by using a marker on the smoke detector itself.
- The date of manufacture of the smoke detectors can be found on the back or side of the smoke alarm.
- The due date for the replacement of the smoke detector can be mentioned in the papers or instruction manual of the smoke detector.
The best thing about replacing smoke detectors is that they can be replaced easily and it is often inexpensive or a time-consuming process but it is significant for keeping your home safe from fire hazards.
