Fire Officials Stress Importance of Checking Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors as the Clocks Change

(KNSI) – As the clocks fall back for Daylight Saving Time, firefighters say this is a good time to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

St. Cloud Interim Fire Marshal Anthony Lorenz encourages residents to make sure the devices are working properly because “That’s going to be your first line of defense. If you were to have something at your home, that’s typically going to be the first thing that alerts you to some sort of dangerous thing going on in your home. So, make sure that they’re operating.”

Lorenz explained if the detectors have a built-in battery, make sure they work. If they use a nine-volt or other removable battery, “This is the time of year to replace those. We often say when you set your clocks back to check those smoke detectors and make sure they’re operating twice a year. That’s always a good rule of thumb.”

You can test your smoke alarm by pushing the Test/Hush button on the cover and holding it down for a minimum of 5 seconds. This will sound the alarm if the electronic circuitry, horn and battery are working.

Lorenz explains that the potential life-saving devices don’t last forever. “Smoke detectors are only intended to last maybe eight years. So, if you check your smoke detector and it’s ten years old, it’s probably time to replace that with a new detector. They do wear out over time.”

He says any device that is a decade old could be unreliable. While smoke detectors get all the attention, it’s just as important to have a properly functioning CO detector with furnace season here.

For more tips on maintaining your detectors, click here.

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