ACI Northwest Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Smoke Detectors’

The Importance of Having Smoke Detectors in Your Home

Monday, January 7th, 2013

Being able to live comfortably in your home is a great feeling. At ACI Northwest, though, we believe that you can never be truly comfortable in your home unless you know that you are safe. That is why we are so passionate about promoting the use and maintenance of high quality smoke detectors in homes throughout the Spokane area.

When it comes to keeping your home and your family safe there are few devices that you must be able to depend upon as much as your smoke detectors. They are your first line of defense against the dangerous situation that a fire in your home creates. That is why they must be professionally installed, maintained and tested regularly. In the event of a fire you need to know that even in a dead sleep you will be made aware of the danger in your home.

The smoke detector that you depend on to alert you of a fire in your home must be tested every month to ensure that its battery backup is in working order. Having your smoke detectors centrally wired into batter backups will keep them operating even in the event of an electrical outage. Make sure that your home is protected no matter what else may be going on.

Many smoke detectors double as carbon monoxide detectors. If you are unsure if you have carbon monoxide detectors or if your smoke detectors also detect carbon monoxide you must find out immediately. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, and it can be deadly due to the difficulty in detecting it. The only way to know if there is a carbon monoxide leak in your home is with the help of a high quality carbon monoxide detector. Remember, a fire is not the only danger that you may face in your home. Be safe, and keep your smoke detectors and CO detectors in good working condition.

If you have any questions about the installation or maintenance of the smoke detectors in your home, contact ACI Northwest today. We can help keep you safe in Spokane. Let us keep your smoke detectors effective with our professional services.

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Electrical Question: How Often Should I Check and/or Replace My Smoke Detectors?

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

The smoke detectors in your home are immensely important. They are the first and oftentimes only line of defense you have against a fire in your home. You need to know they will work at all times so it is important to check them regularly and have them replaced on a rotating schedule.

 When to Check Your Smoke Detectors

You should check the batteries in your smoke detectors once every 6 months – often daylight savings time is a good day on which to do this because it occurs roughly every 6 months. You can also check them more often if they do not have an electrical backup source and are therefore using battery power constantly. The packaging instructions will likely recommend a time at which to have them checked.

It is also recommended to have backup smoke detectors (as well as CO detectors) that are on a slightly different schedule so that if a malfunction occurs, you know you will still have protection.

 When Is It Time to Replace Your Smoke Detectors?

Most smoke detectors have a natural lifespan of 3-6 years. At the end of that lifespan, the device will beep in a certain configuration that means it no longer works. If this happens, you should replace yours right away. To avoid a situation in which the system doesn’t warn you before it breaks down, consider having your smoke detectors replaced even more often – upwards of once every 2-3 years.

Whatever your Spokane home’s smoke detectors’ specifications, it is vital to have them properly maintained and swiftly replaced according to their manufacturer designated schedules. This is a device that will keep you alive in the event of a fire so be prepared. If you need any help with your home’s smoke detectors, give ACI Northwest a call!

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