Are your Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms up to code and in good working order?
The month of October is also known as Fire-Prevention Month. It’s particularly important for homeowners to consider due to the number of fire-related injuries and fatalities that occur every year. If you haven’t done so already, make sure that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are working and have not expired. Smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms are among the greatest inventions of the last century, and almost every home today has at least one. If that’s true, why are there so many fire-related injuries and fatalities? The reason: people don’t realize that most smoke alarms have a life expectancy of 10 years or less. Older smoke alarms cannot be trusted to alert you and your loved ones should a fire ignite. Send Captain Electric a Service Request today and have your smoke alarms replaced: Our technicians in fully stocked trucks are ready to work.
For the next few months, along with the service we are providing – we will be checking your Smoke and CO Alarms, and Electrical Panel, to make sure that there are no safety issues.
Call today to book an appointment.
Durham Region 905-683-4195 | Scarborough 416-281-2700 | Markham 905-305-9535
In addition to the above statistics, it has been found that half of home fire deaths happen between 11 pm and 7 am when most people are asleep.
A working smoke alarm doubles a person’s chance of surviving a fire.
It can reduce fire fatalities up to 90%.
Follow these tips for a safer home:
Smoke Alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement. Larger homes may need more alarms.
They should be tested monthly, and batteries should be replaced each year.
- Replace alarms every 10 years.
- Test alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
- Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or when they do not sound when tested.
- Some people, especially children and older adults, may need help to wake up. Make sure someone will wake them if a smoke alarm sounds.
- When smoke alarms sound go outside and stay outside. Go to your outside meeting place.
- For the best protection install interconnected smoke alarms in your home. When one sounds, they all sound.
- Call the fire department from a cell phone or a neighbours phone. Stay outside until the fire department says its ok to go back inside.
Carbon monoxide (CO) Alarms
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odourless poisonous gas that can be fatal when inhaled. It is the number one cause of unintentional poisoning deaths.
Install one on every level of your home.
CO Safety Tips to Protect Your Family
It is law in Ontario to install CO alarms outside sleeping areas.
CO alarms are required by law to be replaced within the time frame indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions and/or on the label on the unit. Some new CO alarms offer sealed lithium batteries that last 10 years from activation.
- For optimal protection, install additional CO alarms on every floor of the home.
- Have a licenced technician inspect your fuel burning appliances annually, (eg. furnace, range, fireplace, water heater) to ensure they are in proper working order and vented correctly.
- For families with older parents or relatives, it is wise to help them inspect their CO alarms.
- CO alarms don’t last forever. They need to be replaced every 7-10 years, depending on the brand.
- If your alarm goes off get everyone out of the house, stay out and call 911! Exposure to CO reduces your ability to think clearly, so never delay if your alarm goes off and you sense a problem.