How a $10-$20 Investment Can Save Your Life and Property

5/19/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke alarms can be the difference between saving & losing everything.

The Power of Smoke Alarms

While smoke alarms may seem loud and obnoxious and go off at annoying times, it can mean the difference between life and death when a fire does break out on your property. A smoke alarm is the cheapest way to limit and avoid fire damage to your property. Believe it or not, 60% of fire deaths occur in properties that do not have active and working smoke alarms. You need to realize that a fire on your property is entirely possible and should be treated as such. Make sure your family, possessions or company are protected using a smoke alarm.

The type of smoke detector in your home will determine how and when batteries need to be replaced. There are three main types of alarms to be aware of: 

• Alkaline battery alarm
• Lithium battery alarm
• Wired smoke alarm

1. Alkaline Battery Alarms

Many smoke alarms are powered by 9-volt alkaline batteries, or even AA batteries. DO NOT just wait for the batteries to run out. Instead, replace them yearly or even more often. Doing so keeps your alarm loud and responsive to any threats of fire.  

2. Lithium Battery Alarms

Lithium batteries last much longer than alkaline batteries. However, you cannot simply replace the battery when the time comes. Rather, you will need to replace the entire detector after ten years. Make sure to keep up on this battery type since they give a shorter warning time before dying than other alarm types, and since it dies quickly, you will be given no warning of a fire threat.

3. Wired Smoke Alarms 

Many people opt for wired smoke alarms since they are reliable and reduce fire damage caused by accidental shocks. It is embarrassing calling in a fire restoration specialist because a fire started while changing out an old smoke detector! To avoid this, a wired smoke alarm doesn’t run on an expirable battery. However, you should absolutely put in a backup battery and replace it yearly.

Regardless of the type of smoke alarm, it is a good practice to replace the entire alarm every 10 years. This ensures that there isn’t a mechanical problem within the alarm itself and you always have the newest and most up to date technology protecting what matters most. DO NOT wait until you start to hear chirping from your smoke alarm to change your batteries! Keep your home and family safe by following these recommendations.

If you have any questions about fire or smoke cleanup or restoration, SERVPRO is here to help. Call (816) 884-2240 or contact us HERE.