Your fire alarms are the most important and integral part of your home security system. They provide an essential early warning, giving you time to respond and evacuate if a fire breaks out–they can save your life!
But just having fire alarms installed is not enough. To ensure that your fire alarms work when needed, they must be installed and maintained properly. Many homeowners unintentionally make mistakes that could put their families at risk!
Here are three common mistakes homeowners make with their fire alarms and how to avoid them:
- Wrong Placement of Fire Alarms
One of the most common errors homeowners make is installing fire alarms in the wrong spots. Alarms should be placed in every bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level of the home, including the basement. They should also be placed close to kitchens but not directly in the kitchen to avoid false alarms. You should avoid areas like bathrooms where steam might trigger the alarm accidentally.
- Ignoring Low Battery Warnings
When your fire alarm goes off accidentally, or you are low on batteries, you may be tempted to just turn the fire alarm off. But failure to change batteries can leave your home unprotected for days or even weeks. Fire alarms with dead batteries won’t help when you need them most–so make a habit of replacing batteries regularly, it could save your life!
- Failure to Test the System
Many people wrongly assume that if their fire alarm looks okay, and the battery is not dead, then it is working correctly. But failure to test the alarm regularly is a huge mistake. Fire alarms should be tested at least once a month to ensure they are functioning properly. It is also really easy to test your fire alarms. Most models have a simple test button that will let you know if it’s working.
At Alarm Man of NC, LLC, we offer state-of-the-art fire alarm systems to Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Apex, Chapel Hill, Burlington, NC, and the surrounding areas. With most of our fire alarm systems doubling as home security solutions, we ensure that your home is safe, secure, and protected from a wide range of potential dangers. Contact us today to ensure your fire alarm system is up to date, properly installed, and fully operational!