When Should Smoke Alarms Be Replaced?

When should smoke alarms be replaced? In short, the most recent legislation stipulates that you need to replace all smoke alarms at least every 10 years. But there are times when you will need to replace a smoke alarm sooner.

When should smoke alarms be replaced?

If any smoke alarms in your home were installed more than 10 years ago, they need to be replaced immediately with smoke alarms that comply with the current regulations. In addition to age, dust, insects and humidity can all affect the lifespan of different types of smoke alarms.

In order to provide your family with the maximum time to escape any house fires, you need to ensure there is a working smoke alarm on every level of your home.

Adequate fire safety measures include the regular testing and maintenance of every smoke alarm installed in your home.

At the very minimum, you need to test every smoke alarm on a monthly basis. This simply involves pressing the test button on the smoke alarm (or remote). This tests whether both the alarm and smoke detector battery are working. In the case of a low battery, it used to be the case that replacing the battery was a quick and easy process.

Some types of smoke alarms have a battery that you need to replace annually. However, new regulations state that all domestic dwellings should be fitted with photoelectric smoke alarms that use a lithium battery. The manufacturers build these batteries into the smoke alarm units, which last for 10 years. So instead of having to remember to replace your smoke battery every year, you simply replace the entire unit once a decade. This also ensures that the smoke alarms in your home evolve with advancing technology.

Every six months, you need to clean all your smoke alarms with a vacuum cleaner. A buildup of insects, dust, and other particles can hamper the effectiveness of your smoke alarms. Regularly cleaning your smoke detectors twice a year will also go a long way to preventing false alarms.

Lastly, remember to regularly check the expiry date on every smoke alarm in your home.

After 10 years, homeowners should replace all types of smoke alarms.

Working smoke alarms are a matter of safety for your family. Using the latest photoelectric technology, smoke alarms provide you with an earlier warning signal, giving your family more time to escape.

The latest regulations state that property owners must fit all their domestic dwellings with interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms. You need to install one in each bedroom and each passage connecting the bedrooms. In addition, you must install at least one interconnected photoelectric smoke alarm on each level of your home, even if there are no bedrooms on that floor. You need to install these smoke alarms along the path your family is most likely to be use as an exit route in the event of a house fire.

Replacing the smoke alarms in your home is surprisingly easy and affordable.

Although you can’t put a price on the safety of your family, quality smoke alarms can be very affordable. We stock top quality interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms that comply with the latest legislative requirements. In order to increase affordability, we also sell these smoke alarms in bundles so that you can easily replace and update all the smoke alarms in your home. Some of these bundles include a remote control for added convenience.

It’s easy to install these smoke alarms yourself, or we offer an affordable smoke alarm installation service.

You can interconnect our photoelectric smoke alarms wirelessly. This means that it’s easy for you to install these smoke detectors in your home. Just remember to comply with regulations pertaining to where smoke alarms should be installed, and where smoke alarms should NOT be installed!

If you don’t have the time or inclination for a DIY installation, you can always take advantage of our affordable smoke alarm installation service. We have a team of qualified and experienced electricians who will install your new smoke alarms in no time at all. They will ensure they place the smoke detectors correctly throughout your home, thereby ensuring they have put the best possible fire safety measures in place.

You need to replace all outdated or malfunctioning smoke alarms immediately.

All new smoke alarms that you install must comply with the legislative requirements. Once you have installed quality smoke detectors, they should work for the next 10 years provided they are properly maintained. This involves testing them on a monthly basis and cleaning them with a vacuum cleaner every six months.

For any enquiries, please contact our customer service team. We will provide you with all the information and products you need to ensure your home meets the latest fire safety regulations.