Understanding your Smoke and CO detectors.

According to the the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), an average of 2,500 home-fire-related deaths occur each year, and roughly three out of five of them are caused by non-existent or non-functioning smoke alarms. Meanwhile, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that an average of 170 people die from CO produced by home appliances such as “furnaces, ranges, water heaters and room heaters” annually, and the EPA attributes up to 20,000 lung-cancer deaths per year to radon exposure.

Stats like these make it clear that installing and maintaining smoke, carbon monoxide, and radon detectors is key to your household’s health and safety. Below is the information you need to install proper detection devices and keep them in working order.
Smoke Detectors There are two main types of fire alarms—ionization alarms, which are good at detecting smoky flames, and photoelectric alarms, which can detect smoldering, slow-burning fires.

• Hardwired alarms should include backup batteries

Placement:

• Make sure to install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including one inside of each bedroom, and one near the outside of each bedroom
• For levels that don’t include bedrooms, place smoke alarms in gathering areas and near stairways
• To avoid false alarms, install smoke alarms at least 10 feet away from cooking appliances
• Smoke alarms can be placed directly on the ceiling, or on walls, no lower than 12 inches from the ceiling
• For pitched ceilings, install alarms between 4 and 36 inches from the ceiling’s peak

Maintenance Routine:

• Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing their “test” buttons to see if they beep
• Replace batteries at least twice a year—including backup batteries for any hardwired alarms

Replacement:

• Install new smoke alarms at least every 10 years

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Most cases of indoor CO poisoning are caused by improperly vented or malfunctioning furnaces and appliances. CO is colorless and odorless, and even low levels of exposure can cause permanent damage.

• Hardwired alarms should contain backup batteries, especially since CO-generating heating systems such as fireplaces and generators tend to be in higher use when the power is out

Placement:

• Install alarms at least 10 to 15 feet away from furnaces, ranges and other combustion appliances to avoid false alarms
• Avoid placing alarms near fans, vents or windows
• Gas rises, so consider using alarms that can be installed on or near the ceiling, rather than using plug-in models
• Install alarms in all bedrooms, as well as in gathering areas

Maintenance Routine:

• Each month, press and hold each alarm’s test button until it beeps—if it doesn’t, change the batteries
• For hardwired alarms, replace batteries every six months

Replacement:

• CO detectors become less sensitive over time and need to be replaced every five years