Smoke Alarm Maintenance Guide

There is no denying smoke alarms save lives from flaming fires.

A smoke alarm is designed to detect smoke and alert you to potential fire hazards with a loud alarm. They can be battery-powered or hooked up to your home’s electrical system. There are two main types: ionization and photoelectric. Ionization alarms are more sensitive to fast-flaming fires, like those from cooking oils. Photoelectric alarms are better for catching slower, smouldering fires, often caused by materials like fabric or foam.

It doesn’t matter what caused the fire; they will alert you before it becomes unmanageable. When smoke detectors fail, they can lead to an unfortunate disaster, so they must be maintained.

By knowing your detectors, maintaining them, and testing your smoke detectors regularly, you can prevent fires in the future. Keeping your smoke detectors in good working order takes a little time and effort. So, here’s a quick guide for you to get started.

Installation Of Smoke Alarms

A certified electrician should always install smoke alarms per the Building Code of Australia. Like many other electrical components, such as rewiring, you should not DIY the smoke alarm to avoid malfunctioning and costing you money.

To meet legal requirements, place smoke alarms either in the centre of the ceiling or on a wall, 12 inches below the ceiling. This central placement helps the alarm pick up smoke more effectively, giving it the best chance to alert you early.

Here’s where you shouldn’t install smoke alarms in existing homes:

• Near corners
• Near doors, windows or ducts
• Above stove tops or cooking appliances
• In the proximity of steam or humidity
• Close to electrical fixtures

How To Maintain a Smoke Alarm

Not using your smoke alarms for a while might lead to malfunctions due to dust and pollutants. It’s essential to check your smoke detectors regularly to ensure they’re working properly.

1. Testing Your Smoke Alarm

Installing smoke alarms in your home is one thing, but ensuring working smoke alarms is another. As such, testing your smoke detectors is vital:

1. Locate the test button. The test button is usually located on the front of the smoke alarm. It may be a small button or a lever.
2. Once you have located the test button, press and hold it for five seconds.
3. Listen for the alarm to sound. It should sound loud and steady. If it does not sound or is weak, check the lithium battery.
4. Replace the batteries. If the smoke alarm is battery-powered, replace the batteries every six months. It’s always good to have a backup battery in hand.
5. Have the smoke alarm professionally inspected every year. A qualified technician can inspect your smoke alarm for damage and ensure it works correctly.

It’s crucial to test your smoke alarm every month to confirm it’s functioning correctly. Over time, they can become damaged, possibly needing replacement. Monthly testing is your assurance that they’ll work when you most need them.

Here are some additional tips for testing hard-wired smoke alarms and interconnected alarms:

• Test your smoke alarms at night. This is when you are most likely asleep and unable to hear a malfunctioning smoke alarm.
• Teach your children how to test and maintain smoke alarms. This crucial fire safety skill should be learned at a young age.
• Have a fire escape plan. In the event of a fire, you should have a plan for how you and your family will escape from your home.
• Practice your fire escape plan regularly. This will help you and your family know what to do in a fire.

Smoke alarms are essential fire safety devices that can save lives. You can help keep your family safe from a fire by testing and maintaining your smoke alarms regularly.

2. When You Should Replace Your Smoke Alarm

It’s generally recommended to replace smoke alarms if they are ten years old. Smoke alarms can stop working due to dirt, pollutants, or corrosion in their electrical components. This is especially true with replaceable smoke alarm batteries, which can cause continuous sounds.

If you have to remove a smoke detector powered by your home’s electrical system, contact a certified electrician to do the job.

False Alarm: What To Do

Faulty smoke alarms can be a real hassle and could make you overly complacent during an actual emergency. To dodge false alarms, consider these measures and keep them from occurring again.

1. Reset Your Smoke Alarm

Reset your smoke alarms by removing the battery and pressing the test button. Hold the button down for five seconds, release it and place the battery back in again.

When I put the battery back, I’ll make a short noise, signalling that power has been restored. This should prevent false alarms.

2. Check The Vicinity Of Your Smoke Alarm

If your smoke alarm is in an area with a high influx of air or dust, it may cause false alerts. You may want to relocate the device if the dust cannot be kept out.

3. Clean Your Smoke Detector

As mentioned, the build-up of debris or dust can cause your smoke alarm to malfunction and make a false alarm. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, you can take the casing out and clean it with a soft, dry cloth. Before reassembling the smoke alarm, ensure no dust particles are left inside.

Essential Smoke Alarm Features That Need To Be Checked

To improve the accuracy of alarms and reduce false alarms, you’ll want to check the other features regularly. When replacing faulty smoke alarms, make sure they come with these features:

Smoke alarms that don’t work can be a hassle and make you complacent during an actual fire, putting your loved ones at risk. It’s crucial to test your smoke alarms at least once a year and ensure one is installed in every sleeping area and level of the home. Check off these measures to avoid false alarms and ensure they don’t happen again.

1. Reset Your Smoke Alarm

Reset your smoke alarms by removing the battery and pressing the test button. Hold the button down for five seconds, release it and place the battery back in again. When I put the battery back, I’ll make a short noise, signalling that power has been restored and the alarm is working. This should prevent false alarms.

2. Check The Vicinity Of Your Smoke Alarm

If your smoke alarm is in an area with a high influx of air or dust, it may cause false alerts. You may want to relocate the device if the dust cannot be kept out. Ensure the alarm sounds appropriately in its new location.

3. Clean Your Smoke Detector

As mentioned, the build-up of debris or dust can cause your smoke alarm to malfunction and make a false alarm. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, you can take the casing out and clean it with a soft, dry cloth. Before reassembling the smoke alarm, ensure no dust particles are left inside. Remember to replace your smoke alarms every ten years, even if they appear to work fine. After ten years, their sensors may become less sensitive, compromising their effectiveness. Make it a habit to check and clean your smoke alarms every year to keep them in optimal condition and ensure the safety of your loved ones.

Beginners Guide To Maintaining Your Smoke Alarm

Several Australian rules and regulations are in place to prevent deaths from house fires. While they haven’t reduced the occurrence to zero, they have made a significant impact, including smoke detectors.

The last thing anyone wants is a faulty smoke detector when there’s a fire. Proper alarm maintenance and following appropriate rules and regulations can prevent false alarms or malfunctions.

If you’re in Sydney and need smoke alarm specialists, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Bright Force Electrical.

All it takes is vigilance and a few minutes of your time every month. For more tips to keep your family safe, check out our guide on how to clean your light fixtures correctly.

Take care, and don’t forget to test your smoke alarm!