What You Should Know About
Smoke Detectors
Because fire can grow and spread
so quickly, having working smoke
alarms in your Chicagoland home can
mean the difference between life and
death. But these life-saving devices
are only effective when they're
working properly. Smoke alarms with
batteries that are dead,
disconnected, or missing can't alert
you to the dangers of smoke and
fire.
The right way to install smoke
alarms
Install smoke alarms on every level
of your home, including the
basement, making sure that there is
an alarm outside every separate
sleeping area. New homes are
required to have a smoke alarm in
every sleeping room and all smoke
alarms must be interconnected.
Hard-wired smoke alarms operate on
your household electrical current.
They can be interconnected so that
every alarm sounds regardless of the
fire's location. This is an
advantage in early warning, because
it gives occupants extra time to
escape if they are in one part of
the home and a fire breaks out in
another part. Alarms that are
hard-wired should have battery
backups in case of a power outage,
and should be installed by a
qualified
Chicagoland electrician.
If you sleep with bedroom doors
closed, have a qualified electrician
install interconnected smoke alarms
in each room so that when one alarm
sounds, they all sound.
If you, or someone in your home is
deaf or hard of hearing, consider
installing an alarm that combines
flashing lights, vibration and/or
sound.
Mount smoke alarms high on walls or
ceilings (remember, smoke rises).
Ceiling mounted alarms should be
installed at least four inches away
from the nearest wall; wall-mounted
alarms should be installed four to
12 inches away from the ceiling.
If you have ceilings that are
pitched, install the alarm near the
ceiling's highest point.
Don't install smoke alarms near
windows, doors, or ducts where
drafts might interfere with their
operation.
Never paint smoke alarms. Paint,
stickers, or other decorations could
keep the alarms from working.
"Reproduced from
NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web
site,
www.firepreventionweek.org.
©2004 NFPA."
If you are looking for a Chicagoland electrician
or need electrical services, please
call us today at 708.361.1555 or
click on the link below:
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“Charles
explained what was causing my kitchen light to go on and off in
language I could understand. He did a wonderful job of keeping me
informed through the whole process. He went out of his way to keep
my home clean by using shoe covers and a drop cloth in his work
area. I was extremely happy with the service provided. I have found
an electrician for life!.” Michelle O Palos
Heights Il
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