Home and Family > Home Improvement > Smoke Detectors are Now Required by Law!
0
Reviews [ add review ],
Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Gil Strachan
By now, everyone should have at least one smoke detector somewhere in the home; and most folks have at least one on every level, including the basement.
But did you know...
* Pushing the test button only verifies that there is battery (or AC) power present. It DOES NOT PROVE that the detector is capable of sensing smoke.
* To test a smoke detector, hold a lit candle 6 inches below it. If the alarm doesn't sound, blow out the candle and let the smoke drift into the detector. If it still doesn't sound, check the power source.
* Homes with wired-in detectors should have a battery-powered unit as a back-up.
* Rechargeable batteries are NOT recommended for smoke detectors.
* When installing a smoke detector, avoid dead-air spaces in corners and at the very ends of hallways. Centre your smoke detector on a ceiling, keeping it at least 6 inches from any wall. Locate a wall-mounted unit one foot below the
ceiling.
* Smoke detectors should be kept away from drafts at vents, doors and windows.
* The tops of stairwells and any hallways leading to bedrooms are the recommended locations, the latter being the most critical, and the site recommended by the National Fire Code.
* Carefully (gently) vacuum your detectors annually.
About one quarter of all the homes we inspect have improperly located or non-functioning smoke detectors, or none at all!
CHECK YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS TODAY!
Copyright Gil Strachan - All rights reserved.
Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home inspections.
"The Home Reference Book"
You can probably find a home inspection for a little less than what we ask, but you probably won't find the Home Reference Book. A $60 value, this solutions-oriented reference tool comes free with every inspection we perform.
It's the first tool you should have around the house!
Article reviews
Post your review
[ Note : no HTML/URLs - will removed automatically ]
More articles from Home and Family > Home Improvement
|
