How to Properly Test Your Smoke Alarm

8/25/2022 (Permalink)

Don't forget about the smoke alarm!

While it is a task that is quite boring, monotonous and may seem like a waste of time, testing your smoke alarm can literally be a life or death decision. So while yes, it is boring, this simple task can save the lives of you, your family, your pets, and your home. Here is the proper way to test your smoke alarm to keep everything you love safe.

Make Sure You Can Hear the Alarm from Everywhere in Your Home

Have someone stand in the room farthest away from the alarm with the door closed to make sure the sound is audible. If they can hear it clearly,  you are good to go. If not, you can try replacing the batteries to improve hearing or you can buy another detector to place in a better spot. 

To test the alarm, it's as simple as holding the test button and waiting for that piercing noise to ring out, confirming the batteries and sound are working correctly. However, this does not test whether or not the alarm is detecting smoke properly.

Testing smoke alarms using smoke should be done a few times a year, safely, in order to ensure proper functioning of the detector. After warning the members of the house that you are testing the alarm, strike and match and then blow it out, holding the match about a foot away from the detector. The smoke given off should be enough to trigger the alarm. If not, repeat a few times to see if you're able to set it off. If there is still no response from the alarm, replace the batteries and try again. Remember, it may take a few minutes before the alarm will sound. 

Safely testing your smoke alarms is a mundane task. But as a homeowner, it is your responsibility to make sure your home is safe along with everyone in it.