Everyone remembers to change their clocks during Daylight Savings Time. There are countless reminders coming from your iPhone, your laptop and even your car. But what you might forget about is checking your smoke alarms.

Smoke alarms are one of the most important pieces of equipment in your home, but they are also one of the most rarely used and almost never thought about pieces of equipment as well. But the fact is, the chances of dying in a home fire can be reduced by almost 54% with working smoke alarms.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life can be unpredictable. So, it is in your best interest and the interest of your family to be prepared for the worst. Twice a year, when you change your clocks you should take time to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly and swap out the batteries.

How to Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries

The first thing you need to understand is that all smoke alarms are a little different. Identifying the type of battery you need for your alarm before you get started is very helpful.

1. Open the smoke detector – Most smoke detectors twist off, but some must be unscrewed. Search online for your specific owner manual to make sure you do it correctly.
2. Replace the battery – Once the cover is safely removed, you should be able to simply pop out the old battery and replace it with the new one. While doing this be sure to check for any corrosion, exposed wires or other problem areas that might indicate the smoke alarm is no longer functioning properly.
3. Test smoke alarm – Final step is to test the smoke alarm. Once you reattach the smoke detector to the wall or ceiling, there should be a test button on the outside that you can easily press. If you don’t hear a loud beep when you test your alarm, check the battery connections or try different ones. If the smoke alarm fails a second time, we recommend replacing the alarm with a new one as soon as possible.

When shopping for new smoke detectors, it’s important to make sure you know if yours are hardwired into the house or are simply batter operated. We typically recommend keeping the brand and model type consistent so that swapping out batteries and units is simple to do. Consider replacing your alarms every 10 years or when the unit passes its expiration date.

If you are in need of a smoke alarm inspection for your home or business property, contact RTF Fire Protection for quick and efficient service.