The only around-the-clock defenses you have against fires and carbon monoxide (CO) exposure are your smoke and CO alarms. As effective as they are at warning you, you’ll need to replace detectors periodically for maximum protection.
How Long Do They Last
Smoke detectors will last approximately 10 years from the date they’re manufactured. The bottom of the detectors show that date. CO detectors have a shorter lifespan of five to seven years. Since CO is invisible and has no odor, it’s better to replace them at the five-year mark.
Warning Signs
A few manufacturers engineer the detectors to chirp when they’re about to fail. Many won’t chirp when the detectors have reached the ends of their useful lives. If changing their batteries doesn’t silence the noise, replace them as soon as possible. CO detectors go through batteries faster than smoke alarms and need to be checked monthly. Many detectors will also chirp when the batteries are low.
Replacements
Choose separate smoke and CO detectors when you replace detectors. Plug in detectors work dependably, but only if you have outlets higher on the walls. Both smoke and CO rise and placing them too low may allow too many gases to build before they go off. The alarms can also be hardwired into your home’s wiring. Their backup batteries keep them working during power outages.
Placement
Be sure you place the new detectors where they’ll be most effective. CO detectors should be placed away from bathrooms and kitchens, and any appliance that uses gas. Small bursts of CO from combustion could trigger a false alarm.
Each level in your home should have smoke and CO alarms, but if that’s not possible, the hallways leading to the bedrooms should have one of each. They shouldn’t be placed so high on the wall or ceiling that their batteries are difficult to check.
Home safety in the winter depends on these alarms, and how often you replace detectors. To learn more about home safety, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, providing HVAC services for Lorain-area homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about home safety and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area