Deaths from fires and burns are the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and the third leading cause of fatal home accidents (Runyan 2004).
The widespread use of smoke detectors in homes has contributed to a significant reduction in injuries and deaths due to home fires. You can reduce the chances of you or a loved one falling victim to a home fire by installing these inexpensive devices around your home. The only detectors that can help you, however, are the ones that work. Like all electronic devices, they can fail. The only way to make sure your detector works in time of need is to test it periodically.
Steps
Step 1. First, notify all other members of your home that you will experience the alarms, unless you want to take this opportunity to organize a fire drill
If your detector is connected to a controlled security system, be sure to notify the surveillance company that you are about to run a test before doing so. You don't want firefighters to show up at your door
Step 2. Have someone go to the part of the house furthest from the detector when conducting a function test to determine if the alarm can be heard clearly even from that distance
Remember, it will need to be loud enough to wake the person who sleeps more soundly than the house.
Step 3. Press and hold the test button for a few seconds
The detector should produce a loud sound.
Step 4. To verify that the unit really works in a fire, you will need a small can of smoke detector test spray
You can find them in hardware stores or DIY stores. Otherwise, you can find them on the internet. They only cost a few euros, and a small can can last for years. Spray some material into the detector, and wait 5-10 seconds for a response. If the alarm sounds, you will know that the unit would work even in the event of a fire. Otherwise, the unit is faulty, even if it rings when you press the test button. Try changing the batteries and cleaning the detector to remove any dust that may be blocking the openings, and then repeat the test. If it doesn't work after the replacement, your unit needs to be replaced. Replace it as soon as possible.
Step 5. To silence the alarm after trying it, you can use a small handheld vacuum cleaner under the detector and suck up the material
If you only have a full-sized vacuum cleaner, use the extension cord to suck the material out of the unit. The most modern detectors may have a specific button for this purpose that can deactivate them until the residue has been removed from the unit. Alternatively, you can wait for it to turn off by itself, but doing so will waste battery power and the sound is very annoying.
Step 6. Test every smoke detector you have in your home every month
If you don't want to do it, do it at least a couple of times a year. Always test the detectors after changing the batteries to make sure the devices are still functional.
Tips
- Never decorate a smoke detector (including its outer cover) with paints, adhesives, hanging items, etc. You may limit its functionality.
- Most manufacturers recommend testing the detectors every week. The button test is sufficient for this check. Use the spray test a couple of times a year to make sure that the air flow inside the unit is not obstructed.
- '' 'If you move to a house that contains smoke detectors of unspecified age' ', look at the manufacturer's label on the back of the device. It may report the production date, which you can use to calculate the age of the unit. If you can't find the production date, replace that unit as soon as possible.
- Wear ear plugs when trying a smoke detector. It is very noisy and you will be right next to it when it activates.
- '' 'Smoke detectors can be considered reliable for ten years.' '' After this period, you will have to replace them with new ones.
- '' 'A couple of times a year, use a vacuum cleaner to gently remove dust from the unit's openings. The dust in these parts of the device could slow down the entry of smoke and interfere with the detection of a fire.
Warnings
- Never try a smoke detector using real smoke (from a flame, cigarette, incense, etc.). In addition to being a fire hazard, soot and wax and oil particles contained in the smoke can ruin the sensing chamber, making the unit less sensitive.
- The task of the test button is to test the BATTERY. DOES NOT control smoke sensors.
- An alarm of any kind is a simple signaling device, it is not concerned with averting the danger. To be able to survive, you and those who live with you will have to act. Create a fire escape plan, discuss it with all the people who live with you (including children) and practice putting it into practice.
- No smoke detectors offer instant alerts. The fire will have broken out and will have spread before the alarm sounds. For this reason, '' when an alarm sounds, you MUST leave the house, together with the people who live with you, as quickly as possible ''. In the event of a house fire, the difference between death and life is measured in minutes; in some cases seconds.
- Your state's laws probably specify how to dispose of old and unreliable smoke detectors. Know the laws in your area and dispose of these devices properly.
- It is dangerous to try a smoke detector using a flame. It is safer to do this using a test spray. However, never try to test a smoke detector with a spray other than those specific for this use. The other types of sprays contain materials that will adhere to the sensors, making the device less reliable in the future.
