Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Smoke Alarms

MTFPD Video (0:44) 

Taking care of your smoke alarms: Test the alarm monthly whether it is powered by a nine-volt battery, and 10-year lithium battery, or hardwired into your home's electrical system.  For nine-volt battery smoke alarms, and those hardwired into your home's electrical system, replace the batteries (or backup batteries) at least once every year.  Since you cannot (and should not) replace the lithium battery, replace the entire smoke alarm according to the manufacturer's instructions.  For all smoke alarms, replace the entire alarm every 10 years.

Where to place your smoke alarms: Put smoke alarms inside and outside each bedroom and sleeping area. Put alarms on every level of the home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected.  When one sounds, they all sound.  Place smoke alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall. Only qualified electricians should install hardwired smoke alarms.  

Smoke alarms for people with hearing loss: These alarms may have strobe lights that flash and/or vibrate to alert those who are unable to hear standard smoke alarms when they sound. 

What to do if the alarm sound while cooking: Never take the battery out of your smoke alarm!  If the smoke alarm sound while you're cooking, open a window or door and press the "hush" button.  Wave a towel at the alarm to clear the air.  Later, move the entire alarm several feet away from the kitchen. Disabling a smoke alarm or removing the battery can be a deadly mistake.

For additional smoke alarm information:

• New Illinois Smoke Alarm Law

• Installing and maintaining your own smoke alarms

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

MTFPD Video (1:34) 

Where to put CO alarms: Ideally, each floor of the home should have a CO alarm.  Every home should have at least one CO alarm located outside of the sleeping areas. 

Be sure to read and follow the installation instructions that come with each CO alarm as each manufacturer has specific recommendations for their unit. It is not recommended to install the CO alarm too close to gas stoves and other gas-burning appliances since many will give off a small amount of CO when first turned on.

Examples of CO producing devices commonly used around the home:

• Fuel fired furnaces - non-electric
• Gas water heaters
• Gas stoves
• Gas dryers
• Fireplaces and woodstoves
• Gas and charcoal grills
• Lawnmowers, snowmobiles, and other yard equipment
• Automobiles

TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVING A FIRE AT NIGHT: Close your door!  Closing the bedroom doors is extremely important for potentially saving lives and limiting fire damage. Closed doors keep smoke, heat, and flames away for a longer time thus providing more time for rescue.  

closeyourdoor.org