Having smoke alarms are great, they are there to protect you and your property from fire damage, to alert people to potential danger from fire and smoke. The problem is, fire alarms are only helpful if they properly function. For fire alarms to be most effective, they must be properly maintained.
Of course it’s easy to forget them, as they are quiet until you most need them, unless they go off falsely, but you need to KNOW that the smoke alarms are properly functioning so they are there when you need them most. This means that routine maintenance is just as important as having smoke alarms in the first place.
Here are a few simple steps that will help you maintain your fire alarm in proper working order:
- Test the alarm: There is only one way to know for sure if an alarm works and that is to test it regularly. Once a month is the general rule of thumb, it only takes a few minutes and you’ll know for sure that the alarm itself works and therefore can sound when it is most needed. Even fire departments routinely test their alarms; if you live near a fire department you will hear them regularly. They know the importance of testing.
- Clean the alarm and your suppression system: Like any other piece of equipment that you want in proper functioning order, alarms have to be cleaned to work properly and to extend the life of the device. This alarm can save lives, so can your sprinklers, so regular cleanings, which only take a matter of minutes, should be completed like clockwork. Test once a month when you clean.
- Replace batteries and make sure the power supply works: Once a year you should replace the batteries or backup power device at a minimum. Pick a holiday or your anniversary, a day that you won’t forget. While you will be testing monthly, replace the batteries or emergency power supply annually regardless of how the device tested. Batteries may last several years as well as generators, but you never want to gamble on the alarm’s power supply.
- Replace the alarms and sprinklers themselves: Every ten years at a minimum, like clockwork, get new alarms and make sure that your entire fire detection and suppression system is up to date. Even the best of equipment gets old, and that goes for fire alarms as well, but as fire alarms save lives, you can’t wait for them to wear down completely. Be safe and simply replace them routinely.
Troubleshoot any issue: If you are getting too many false alarms or it seems like the alarm is too sensitive, be proactive in regards to tracing down the problem. The fact is, it may not be a problem with the alarm, and you may have a potential fire hazard lurking, one that needs prompt attention. For more information or to hire a fire watch guard visit http://firewatchguards.com.
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source http://www.firewatchguards.com/tips-maintain-fire-alarm-2017/
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