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Are Your Smoke Alarms Really THAT Important?

YES! A proper functioning smoke alarm could save your life! Smoke alarms alert everyone in the house that there is a fire and give you time to get out. According to NFPA’s March 2014 “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires” report, three of every five home fire deaths occurred in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The report also found that from 2007-2011, smoke alarms only sounded in half of the home fires reported to the U.S. fire departments.

Smoke DetectorsSmoke alarms are one of the most important safety features in your home, but they often get the least amount of attention. Sometimes, we forget we even have them! We only notice them when we burn a meal, improperly put out a cigarette, or have an electrical fire. While you might find the alarms annoying, especially if you just burnt your favorite meal, they are just doing their job. Fire alarms are supposed to be sensitive to smoke in the air. They alert you at the first sign of trouble and hopefully give you enough time to put out a small fire or escape with your loved ones.

It’s critical you have fully functioning smoke alarms in your home. Below are a few steps you can take to protect your family and property against the unfortunate event of a fire.

  1. Test your smoke alarms regularly. There is a small “test button” on the front of your alarm. Press and hold down this button to test the alarm.
  2. Make sure you have the proper number of smoke alarms for the size of your home. The general rule is one alarm on each floor, in all bedrooms, and outside all sleeping spaces.
  3. Replace or repair all malfunctioning smoke alarms. Install additional alarms, if needed. To ensure your smoke alarms are installed and functioning properly, contact our experienced electricians at Main Stream Electric. We will protect and safeguard your home.
  4. Teach your kids about fire safety, fire escapes, and what to do in the event of a fire. Plan an escape route and practice it with your children. Many children try to grab their favorite blanket or stuffed animal before they leave the house. Stress the importance of leaving belongings behind and escaping the house as quickly as possible.
  5. Replace all fire alarms in your home every 10 years.

When you have properly installed and maintained smoke alarms in your home, you are doing your part to reduce the chances of fire deaths and injuries to yourself and your family. If your smoke alarms have not been tested or replaced recently, Main Stream Electric can help! We can protect your home by installing additional alarms and testing existing alarms. We also provide complete home electrical safety inspections. This is where we check for any other electrical issues in your home. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Contact Main Stream Electric today!

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