Here are some signs that should signal you need new smoke detectors.
Think about what you would do if your smoke detectors didn’t work. If someone told you that your smoke detectors only had about a 50% chance of working, it would be cause for concern. That said, however, many smoke detectors fail to sound when they should be. This can pose a danger to everyone in a building, as well as the building itself. Bearing this in mind, you need to know when to replace your smoke detectors, so you don’t end up stuck with a faulty detector in times of need. Here are some signs that should signal you need new smoke detectors.
Your Detectors are Old
Smoke detectors don’t last forever. In fact, most will only last up to ten years. After ten years, the sensors on most smoke detectors won’t be as sensitive to smoke. This means your detector may not go off in the event of a fire, compromising everyone inside. Some people believe that they can determine if their detector works fine simply by pushing the test button. However, this is not the case. The test button doesn’t signal if the sensor is functional, only the battery, alert system, and electronics.
To properly test smoke detectors, try spraying an aerosol can around your detector. This will simulate what happens when smoke fills up your building. This should give you a more accurate indicator of whether or not your sensor works. Even if everything appears to be in functional condition, we still recommend that you replace your smoke detectors around every ten years as a precaution.
Your Smoke Detectors Use Ionization Technology
While ionization detectors have been the most popular variant for a long time, they don’t perform at the level of photoelectric alarms. Ionization detectors are more likely to give off false alarms, and they don’t detect smoldering fires as quickly as their photoelectric counterparts. This means they’re less likely to help you in the event of a real fire. If you’re unsure of whether or not you have an ionization model, there should be a model number on the back of your detector. If your detector has an “I,” that means it is an ionization model.
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Anderson Fire Protection, Inc. has the expertise and skill to help your home or commercial property for all your fire protection needs. We have been working in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. areas for over 25 years. We are known for our top-notch customer service and high-quality results. If you are ready for fantastic fire prevention and protection services, from fire sprinkler installation to fire alarm design and to consult, give us a call at (410) 796-4915 or visit us online.