February Home Maintenance Tip Check Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

February Home Maintenance Tip: Check Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Dead batteries caused 25% of smoke detector failures from 2012–2016, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Take a few minutes this month to check your home’s safety devices.

Test Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Press and hold the test button on each smoke detector. It may take a moment to sound, but you should hear a loud, high-pitched alarm. If the sound is weak or silent, replace the batteries.
• Do the same for carbon monoxide detectors. These may take up to 20 seconds to sound. If the alarm is quiet or doesn’t activate, replace the batteries.

Inspect Your Fire Extinguisher

• Look for damage like corrosion or leaks.
• Lift the extinguisher to ensure it’s still full.
• Check the pressure gauge—if the arrow is in the green, it’s good. If there’s no gauge, press the pin; if it pops back up, the unit is pressurized. If not, replace it.

Ongoing Safety Checks

• Monthly: Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and check your fire extinguisher.
• Every 10 years: Replace smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Every 5 years: Have a professional inspection for your fire extinguisher.

A few minutes of maintenance can make a big difference in keeping your home safe.