Test smoke alarms regularly Published April 2, 2009 By 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- In 2004, The National Fire Protection Association reported that 96 percent of homes had at least one smoke alarm installed; however, 25 percent of those devices did not function. Stunningly, homes with non-working smoke alarms greatly outnumber those homes which don't have them. The NFPA also reports nearly half of the deaths from home fires occur in homes without smoke alarms installed, and the biggest reason alarms failed was due to dead or missing batteries. You can take a big step toward ensuring your family's safety from fire by merely testing your smoke alarms regularly and changing alarm batteries at least twice a year (in the spring or fall when you change the time on your clocks is a great time to do this). Smoke alarms will usually chirp intermittently when batteries are running low. The following steps will help ensure the safety of your home: Test your smoke alarms once a month, following the manufacturer's instructions. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm twice a year and as soon as the alarm "chirps" to let you know the battery is low. Never "borrow" a battery from a smoke alarm. Smoke alarms don't work if their batteries are missing or have been disconnected. Don't disable smoke alarms even temporarily. If your smoke alarm is sounding "nuisance alarms," try relocating it farther from kitchens or bathrooms, where cooking fumes and steam cannot inadvertently activate it. Regularly vacuum or dust your smoke alarms, following the manufacturer's maintenance instructions.. Smoke alarms don't last forever. Replace yours once every 10 years. If you can't remember how old the alarm is, then it's probably time for a new one. If you are building a new home or remodeling your existing home, consider installing an automatic home fire sprinkler system. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together cut your risk of dying in a home fire by 82 percent. Installation The placement of smoke detectors is very important, and sleeping areas need the most protection. One detector in a short hallway outside the bedroom area is usually adequate. For maximum protection, install a detector in each bedroom. Be sure to keep the detector away from fireplaces and wood stoves to avoid nuisance alarms. Place smoke detectors at the top of each stairwell and at the end of each long hallway. Smoke rises easily through stairwells. Proper mounting of a smoke detector is also important. You can mount many detectors by yourself, but those connected to your household wiring should be installed by a professional electrician. If you install your own smoke detectors be sure and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. Testing Procedures 1. Depress the test button located on the alarm. 2. Listen for the alarm. 3. Replace batteries in weak sounding alarms. 4. Avoid testing the alarm with smoke from cigarettes or candles. Repeated use of smoke to test alarms can cause them to fail when a real fire occurs. For more information, contact the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department at (850) 283-4777.