Many take this essential piece of fire protection equipment for granted but  it could make the difference between your safety and extensive property damage and injury. Let’s check out some of the steps you should take to ensure that smoke alarms are in optimum working condition.

• Install smoke alarms outside each bedroom and sleeping area, and on each level of your home, including the basement.
• When possible smoke alarms should be interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound.
• Read and follow every step of the manufacturer’s directions when you install your smoke alarms.
• Test your smoke alarms every month to make sure that they are working properly.
• Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning your smoke alarms.
• Change the batteries as often as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Replace any smoke alarms that is more than ten years old.
• Investigate any false alarms, and have an escape plan in case of a real fire.
• For maximum protection, install at least one ionization and one photoelectric type smoke alarm on each level of your home.  Ionization type smoke alarms typically respond first to fast flaming fires. They are best suited for rooms that contain highly combustible materials. Photoelectric type smoke alarms typically respond first to slow smoldering fires and are less prone to nuisance alarms near the kitchen area. These models are best suited for living rooms, bedrooms and near kitchens.