What is the proper way to use and maintain smoke detectors?
Working smoke detectors can alert you to a fire in your home in time for you to escape, even if you are sleeping. Install smoke detectors on every level of your home, including the basement, and outside each sleeping area. If you sleep with the door closed, install one inside your sleeping area as well. Test detectors every month, following the manufacturer’s directions, and replace batteries once a year, or whenever a detector “chirps” to signal low battery power. Never “borrow” a smoke detector’s battery for another use–a disabled detector can’t save your life. Replace detectors that are more than 10 years old.
