A fire safety expert shares a foolproof smoke alarm testing schedule, along with placement and installation tips.
Getty Images / Dorling Kindersley
But how do you know if they’re working properly?
Where Should Smoke Alarms Be Installed in Your Home?
Credit:Getty Images / Dorling Kindersley
Detectors should be placed high up, either on the ceilings or near the top of walls.
This is because a draft could impede the way they operate, making them less effective.
They should also be wired so that one alarm triggers the others throughout the home.
If possible, they should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound," he says.
This process is fairly straightforward as theres typically a test button on the detectors themselves.
If you press it and hear a very loud beep, Kerber says its in proper working form.
He suggests using Daylight Savings Time as your key to sticking to a six-month schedule.
Its usually every 10 years, or when they stop workingwhichever comes first, he says.
Instead, he stresses the importance of creating an escape route for your family.
Kerber suggests including three options and practicing them often.
He describes these as plans A, B, and C.
