Safety Tips: Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms are your first line of defense in a fire, providing critical early warning when every second counts. Without them, toxic smoke can silently fill your home, putting lives at risk—especially while you sleep.

• Each year, there are over 330,000 home fires that cause nearly 3,000 deaths, over 10,000 injuries and over $10 billion in property losses
• More than half of all fire fatalities happen in homes without working smoke alarms
• Smoke spreads faster than fire, and most fire-related deaths are due to smoke inhalation—not burns
• While asleep, people can lose consciousness from smoke fumes before flames even reach them

Smoke alarms in the market fall under two basic categories: ionization and photoelectric.

• Ionization alarms: React faster to flaming fires
• Photoelectric alarms: Detect smoldering fires more quickly
• Dual-sensor alarms: Combine both technologies for maximum protection

In addition, smoke alarms also come in two power options:

• Battery-operated: Uses either a 9-volt battery (replace twice a year) or a 10-year lithium battery (non-replaceable)
• Hard-wired: Connected to your home's electrical system and interconnected—when one alarm sounds, they all do

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, there are smoke alarms with strobe lights that flash when activated and bed shakers that alert through vibrations. Ensure these alarms and accessories are approved by a qualified testing laboratory for safety and effectiveness.

Installing smoke alarms in the home:

• Place smoke alarms on every floor and inside and outside each bedroom
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper placement

Maintaining your smoke alarms:

• Test alarms monthly to ensure they work
• Replace disposable batteries twice a year. A great reminder: Change your clocks, change your batteries
• For 10-year lithium battery alarms, replace the entire unit per manufacturer guidelines
• Hard-wired alarms? Replace the backup battery at least once a year

Replacing your smoke alarms:

• Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years—even if they seem to work