WNC Homes and Real Estate - Asheville, North Carolina real estate

Don't Forget Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms During Your Spring Clean

smiling family gathered in the kitchen cutting fruit and fresh squeezing orange juice, meanwhile smoke and CO detectors are working silently in the background ready to save their lives and their yellow dog in the event of a fire emergency

(StatePoint)As you go about the house dusting the ceiling fan and scrubbing the tub, don't forget to clean and test your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

Did you know that the National Fire Protection Association says having working smoke alarms in the home doubles your chances of safely escaping a house fire? This spring, Kidde, a pioneer in early smoke detection for more than 100 years, is offering these hints for keeping your smoke and CO alarms up to date.

• Install devices throughout the house, on every level including the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, hallways, basement and garage. It’s also a good idea to keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen, basement, laundry room and garage.

• Smoke and CO devices aren’t just plastic boxes – they’re sophisticated mini-computers. Their sensors and circuits constantly analyze air particles, and like any computer, dust and neglect can inhibit their functionality.

Clean your alarms this spring, and regularly after that, to help prevent false alarms. Use compressed air or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush to clean the vents, and then wipe the device with a dry microfiber cloth.

• Smoke and CO alarms are electronic devices with sensors and circuits that wear out over time. It’s recommended to replace them every 5 to 10 years depending on the model. You can determine whether it’s time to replace or upgrade your alarms by looking at the manufacturing date.

Be sure to opt for self-testing devices that help ensure the alarms are operating as expected. Kidde’s Detect line of devices offer revolutionary technology that provides fast, precise smoke detection, giving individuals and families more time to react and get to safety. The line also prioritizes enhanced sensing technology, which helps to reduce those nuisance alarms that can lead to consumers disabling their devices.

Remember, a self-testing device is not a substitute for a manual push test. No matter what style devices you have in your home, be sure to take time this spring to manually test them, and then monthly after that.

Get more information about fire and CO safety atkidde.com