Changing Smoke Detectors While Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a chance to declutter your house and make it a safer and more enjoyable space to occupy. Many property owners may be tempted to replace smoke detectors as part of this process. Whether or not you would benefit from doing so depends on a number of factors, and a professional from Mister Sparky may be able to help you make the best decision in your case.
How Old Is Your Smoke Detector?
Smoke detectors generally last for about 10 years after they are installed or first activated. Therefore, if your current smoke detector is approaching its 10th birthday, it may be a good idea to get rid of it.
This may be especially true if it has been beeping recently. Those beeps are often a warning that the detector is nearing the end of its useful life and should be replaced. However, you should also follow manufacturer guidance when determining if your smoke detector is too old to be reliable in your home.
It is important to note that these products may become defective long before they reach the end of their natural useful life. Therefore, don’t ignore any beeps or other warning signs simply because you have a newer product in your home.
Check for Electrical Issues
If you have a hard-wired smoke alarm system, you should do a full electrical system check to ensure that it is safe to operate for another year. For instance, you should check the condition of wires to determine if they are frayed, loose or show other signs of damage during a visual inspection.
It’s critical that you don’t touch live wires as you could be seriously hurt. It’s also possible that you could cause a short or other problems that can trip a circuit breaker or cause an electrical fire.
A loose connection, tripped circuit or other electrical system issues may result in false alarms or other problems with your smoke detector. Again, if you think that there is an issue with your home’s electrical system, do not hesitate to call for professional help.
Don’t Forget to Check the Batteries
Even if you don’t think that there is anything wrong with your smoke detector, the spring season is a great time to inspect the batteries. Batteries that are exposed to excessive heat, cold or moisture may run down faster than those exposed to calmer conditions.
Therefore, they may need to be replaced even if you put new ones in last spring or at some point in the last few months. Older batteries may also be vulnerable to corrosion, which can cause them to become defective quickly, and corrosion may also cause issues with the smoke detector itself.
Systems that are hard-wired to your home’s electrical system may still rely on a battery backup. Therefore, you should make it a point to inspect and replace batteries on an annual basis to be safe.
Clean Out Your Smoke Detector
Dust, pollen and other debris can easily get inside a smoke detector and reduce its ability to function properly. You may use compressed air, a pipe cleaner or similar products to remove debris when you can’t open the detector. If you can, it may be possible to use a vacuum to remove large debris or a cloth to remove dust and other fine particles.
Insects may also be able to burrow their way inside a smoke alarm and cause problems. You can spray insect repellent near the smoke detector to create an invisible barrier. However, it’s generally not advised to spray the unit directly or to get anything on the sensor.
If you are thinking about replacing your smoke detector this spring, give the team at Mister Sparky a call today. We serve Gainesville and surrounding areas and provide prompt, friendly and direct service. Remember, when you work with Mister Sparky, you won’t have to put up with any malarky.
