Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector Lifespan
As with pretty much everything, your smoke alarm eventually expires. Sensors can become less sensitive over time, making them less adept at doing their job: detecting smoke, carbon monoxide, or potential fires.
Replacing the equipment in your fire safety system is important both at home and in your business. We have developed a quick guide for home and business owners on when you should replace your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
In Your Home
The date found on the back of the equipment of your fire system is the manufacture date. The life of your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors begins once they are installed in your home, but if you do not know exactly when the equipment was installed use the date as a point of reference.
If you have lived in the same house for a few years and have never replaced your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, it is probably overdue for some new equipment. Check the manufacture dates on your alarms as listed by the manufacturers by removing the detectors from where they are hung and look on the back. The date listed is the manufacture date.
You can double-check with the company that made your specific alarm or detector, but a general rule of thumb is that you should replace smoke detectors every 7-10 years and carbon monoxide/smoke detector combos every 5-7 years. Manufacturers and equipment manuals will list the exact warranty and other important details about the lifespan of the safety equipment.
Smoke alarms and systems require yearly inspections and maintenance. When you replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, you can review the manufacturer’s date and test the device itself to ensure it is functioning properly.
A beeping smoke alarm is a highly annoying yet effective signal that something is amiss with your equipment. If your smoke alarm is beeping and you can’t figure out why, it may be that it has met its life expectancy. By reviewing the manufacturer’s date, you can be certain whether your alarm needs more than a simple battery replacement.
In Your Business
Regular Inspections will help to maintain your fire alarm system to clean any dust or debris, do a visual check, and perform necessary testing. The FSS Technologies team conducts fire alarm testing to make sure that equipment is functioning and meets local authority having jurisdiction standards.
Fire alarm systems in a business are more complex than those in a home, and the additional equipment will likely require replacing on a regular basis. Your business probably has multiple fire extinguishers that are accessible to your employees. Your fire extinguisher might also need to be replaced if it’s damaged, has missing components, or has a low PSI gauge reading.
Looking for Help?
Fortunately, you don’t need to keep track of everything on your own. The expert team at FSS Technologies is available to answer any questions you may have about your fire safety system and can help assess your home or business for a system installation.
Explore Our Other Blogs
What is an Emergency Action Plan?
The purpose of an Emergency Action Plan is to inform employees of what actions they should take if an emergency occurs at work. It’s required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and it can be critical in preventing the loss of property, or lives, in a crisis. If an emergency alarm went off…
5G Security Concerns & the 3G Sunset
Consumers are using the internet on the go more than ever. By 2022, it is projected that consumers will utilize nearly 11GB of data per month, primarily due to video consumption. To create a more robust and long-term solution, technology infrastructure is working towards the next generation of mobile networks: 5G. With this network upgrade…
DIY Home Security Cameras
DIY Security Systems Are the New Fad There are many pre-configured, DIY home security system kits on the market. They are sold under various brand names including Ring, Nest, SimpliSafe, and others. The basic idea of a DIY home security system is that you pay one low fee to purchase all of the equipment and…
How Security Monitoring Benefits Businesses
Instating work from home policies to protect your employees and help to stop the potential spread of COVID-19 is one step that organizations are taking to keep their company safe. But, with all your employees at home, how can you protect the other assets that make up your business? Regardless of the type of company…
Avigilon Alta: Leading Commercial Access Control
With the rise in popularity of hybrid workspaces and flexible scheduling, more business owners are turning to access control systems to secure their investments. Not only are access control systems the latest standard for commercial security, but FSS Technologies is a proud partner with Avigilon Alta, the leading access control system manufacturer. Why Avigilon Alta?…
Cost of Home Security Systems
Getting a security system for your home is a wise investment. While the obvious benefit is protection for your family, home, and belongings, it’s hard to put a price on the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you and your family will have professional help in case of an emergency. Still, you must…
Where Should Window and Motion Sensors be Placed?
Motion and window sensors are basic parts of a security system in both residential and business applications. The expert security team at FSS Technologies has helped thousands of business and property owners stay safe with these tools. Sensors A motion sensor allows a system to detect movement, using waves or light to determine if someone or…
Renter’s Insurance Discounts and Security Systems
Home invasions or burglaries are a threat to any household, regardless of where they are located. One of the biggest deterrents for burglars is a home security system that could record evidence of their actions or could notify the authorities at the time of a break-in. This is a huge motivator for homeowners when deciding…
Items Burglars Want Most
Burglars move quickly. Because they tend to spend as little as ten minutes inside a home or business, several big-ticket items tend to fall prey to thieves. While some items on our list come to mind instantly, some may be more subtle. Outside of installing a security system, taking extra steps to secure your items…
Which Businesses are Burglarized Most?
The idea of business theft and burglary is not a pleasant one; however, the likelihood of your business being burglarized is rather high. In fact, approximately 37% of small business owners were impacted by burglary or theft over the past year. Retail businesses in particular are highly targeted as thieves are seeking the opportunity to either use or resell stolen items. Everything from simple shoplifting to employee theft can contribute to overall business…