A smoke detector is one of the smallest appliances in your home, but also one of the most important. Since 3 out of 5 home fire deaths occurred in homes without properly-functioning smoke alarms, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends homeowners replace their smoke detector every 5-10 years.
At Argent Heating & Cooling, our team is dedicated to keeping your home safe through providing excellent services and long-lasting products at an affordable rate. We offer professional home inspections, quality smoke detector installations and many comprehensive maintenance services for residents throughout the Washington D.C area. Our experienced technicians have served numerous customers over the past 30 years and are devoted to our clients’ satisfaction. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid while installing a smoke detector in your home:
1. Avoid Installing Near Doors or Ducts
Placing smoke detectors near ducts or doors often leads to false alarms. This occurs due to the slight air drafts that are produced by a door’s movement or through your HVAC system activating, which may prevent your alarm from dysfunctioning.
2. Remember Your Basement
Many homeowners forget or simply neglect to place a fire alarm in their basement. Be sure to place several, ideally one on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs, so that it is able to alert you and your family before a fire reaches the top of the stairs.
3. Don’t Get Too Close
Placing a smoke detector in or near certain appliances may seem intuitive, but it is actually better not to. According to Realtor.com, it is better to place alarms at least 10 feet away from specific areas in your home such as the kitchen, laundry room, or showers. The moisture from the shower or smoke coming out of your oven could damage the detector over time.
4. Synchronize Your Alarms
A proper fire alarm installation requires that each of your alarms are integrated and interconnected with the other alarms in your house. If a fire hazard occurs in one room, then all the other alarms should go off in order to alert anyone who’s in the general area. Many people tend to forget to interconnect their smoke alarms throughout their home so check whether your fire alarm system is working by consulting an expert.
5. Don’t Underestimate Dual Alarms
There are two types of smoke alarms: Photoelectric and Ionization. Photoelectric alarms alert you to smoldering fires, whereas ionization alarms detect flames. The difference lies in the environmental conditions each one is sensitive to. However, having both of alarms in your fire alarm system is the most effective way to evade a house fire.
6. Basic Maintenance
Test your smoke alarm at least once every month. Regular testing ensures that your smoke alarm functions properly when you need it the most. Also, replace a smoke alarm’s batteries once every six months, and the alarm itself every 10 years. Though they are often forgotten among the many other concerns we have in our daily lives, it is immensely important to perform these essential maintenance tasks.
Argent Heating & Cooling: Reliable Smoke Detector Installation in the Washington D.C. Area!
To ensure that your alarms work during an emergency, proper installation and maintenance is vital. In order to guarantee that your smoke alarm system is always in working order, call on a technician from Argent Heating & Cooling. We ensure your home’s appliances function properly through various services, such as HVAC repair and maintenance, home restoration assistance, reliable smoke detector installation and many more. For residents and businesses in the Washington D.C. area, Argent Heating & Cooling has made it our goal to protect you from any disasters could occur in your working or living space. We have over thirty years of experience in providing excellent customer and home appliance services. Contact us at (703) 281-6300 to schedule an appointment today!
