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Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, …
Change the batteries or replace the units? That’s the question.
We had been working on selling my mother’s home (Grandma Jean’s) since she moved in with us last year. As we worked on this 1910 home, we made sure the simple things were addressed. It is going into winter now and we are checking and replacing batteries, timers, and light bulbs. My parents lived in this home for over 25 years and I noticed the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are the same ones that were present at the time of their purchasing this home. In addition to the unpleasant appearance of these aged and clearly outdated devices, I began to wonder when exactly should the units be replaced, not just the batteries, the entire units.
My research indicated that smoke detectors should be replaced at least every 10 years, and carbon monoxide detectors every 7 years (usfa.fema.gov). Well now, that certainly was a bit of information I did not know! So now the quest begins in researching which detector is the right fit for this home, as well as my home. The U.S.F.A., (U.S. Fire Administration) has a great .pdf checklist to ensure you have what you need and where.
While I continued my research, trending topics lead me to safety issues during the holiday season and the winter months. Christmas trees and decorations, extension cords, candles, and cooking are factors to consider when checking for safety concerns. My attention was drawn to another potential concern that I myself had not considered. Carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas and rightly so, has earned the title of the “invisible killer.” The USFA site directed me to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission site for more detailed information. Homes that use fuel (wood, gas, propane, etc,) for stoves, furnaces, and water heaters, as well as the Christmas season favorite… the fireplace, should have appropriately placed CO detectors installed in addition to smoke detectors.
I have lived in many parts of the continental US and the weather is unique to each area. Sometimes, weather can change beyond what is expected or known. Snow storms, ice storms, extreme heat and cold, hurricanes, you name it. We lose power and resorting to other alternatives to heating, cooking, communication, and electricity in general.
Our home is out in the boonies keeping a response time for fire and rescue a little more timely than desired. To keep prevention and detection a priority, we do have extinguishers in various places around the property… more on those another day.
We did choose to replace all smoke detectors in my mother’s home as well as ours. Each home had unique needs and with that, I will share what we purchased for our home and why. We chose two distinct combination units. One has a wireless component, the other does not. Our previous units were not hard-wired leaving no existing wire to connect the new units. I did a personal query with friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances and determined there was no need to hire an electrician as battery devices were just as functional as the hard-wire devices.
(Price as of 3/10/2019)
We have a split level home, attached garage, and a separate, large workshop. Each bedroom, the family room/office, living room, kitchen, lower level, garage, and workshop had units replaced/installed. Wireless units were used in the living room and the workshop as “first alerts” (no pun intended) in the event we are not in the house, or not in the shop. We also opted to purchase gas detectors as we use propane for our heating fuel out here in the boonies.
Never operate a generator or grill inside a home, not even the garage!
Please visit both sites for safety guides, tips, and general info information. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Fire Administration)
Make a routine to check and inspect your home for safety assurance.
