CO Detectors and Smoke Alarms
With winter comes many changes in our schedules not the least of which is that I’m in my sweat pants earlier and longer than at any other time during the year. OK, probably too much information. I do have three items that I cycle through every 6 months starting with late fall / early winter:
- Replace furnace filter: My furnace is outfitted with the large capacity 25” X 16” x 4” filter which provides a longer life and a little more latitude when it comes to replacing.
- Change the Smoke Alarm Batteries: I am profoundly affected any time a news story is aired where the firemen report non-working smoke alarms as a contributing cause to any fire injury or death. Routine maintenance of your smoke alarms is simple, quick and fairly painless. This is what I do every six months:
- Change the batteries
- Vacuum the entire smoke alarm to remove dust that may be covering the air inlets. This is an often overlooked step in smoke the maintenance of any air based detector system. Air inlets that are covered with dust will degrade the performance of your monitors. Take the few minutes involved to clean these up.
- Inspect Your CO Monitor: If you have an integrated smoke and carbon monoxide detector than performing the above maintenance will have you covered. If however you are using a separate carbon monoxide detector please make sure to do the following:
- Install the recommended number of units at the recommended locations for the size and style of your home.
- Replace the batteries
- Vacuum the air inlets
Enjoy all the added opportunities for family time coming from the extended amount of time you’re inside together. Be safe at the same time by performing these simple steps insuring your furnace and monitors are in good working order.
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