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Few homeowners realise the importance of regular maintenance of smoke alarms. A well maintained smoke alarm is the surest way to get early warning for your family. The following tips will assist you in maintaining your smoke alarms.
- Smoke alarms have a shelf life of around ten years, after this time it is recommended you replace the alarm.
- In battery operated alarms batteries should be changed each year to ensure that the smoke alarm is working. A good way of making this a habit is to change the smoke alarm batteries when clocks are changed for daylight saving.
- Always replace the batteries in battery operated smoke alarm as soon as the alarm warns that the batteries are low. Avoid the tendency to take the batteries out and have a smoke alarm that is not in use, this decision could be deadly.
- ADT monitored smoke alarms will notify both you and ADT that the batteries are running low. ADT will contact you to ensure you are aware of the alarm notification and are preparing to change the batteries. ADT can assist where required and we recommend an ADT technician come and perform a preventative maintenance service of your security and smoke alarm systems.
- Homeowners should test their alarm once a month by operating the test button and vacuum or use a soft brush to clear the grill on the smoke alarms every month or so to make sure they are dust free.
Positioning your smoke alarms 
- Smoke alarms should be fitted outside each sleeping area and in each bedroom if the occupants smoke in the bedroom, have heaters or electrical appliances in their bedroom or if their door is shut preventing them from hearing the alarm outside their door.
- Smoke alarms should be positioned as per the manufacturers’ instructions, at least one metre away from air conditioners and fluorescent light fixtures. Care should be taken to avoid ‘dead air’ spaces such as A frame ceilings or at the corners of a room.
Many people buy smoke alarms with the best of intentions and are not aware that they need to maintain the alarm to get the best from it, which ultimately puts lives and property at risk. Smoke and fire are killers that often strike while people are asleep.
Types of Smoke Alarms
- Smoke alarms all work the same - right? Wrong. The most common type (ionisation detector) work by detecting the gases and particles coming off a hot flaming fire. The second type of alarm, called photoelectric, senses the smoke in a completely different way and is much better at detecting the smoke from smouldering fires. Why does this matter? As a general rule, there isn't a big difference in how well the alarms detect flaming fires, but an ADT monitored photoelectric smoke alarm will detect smouldering smoke much much better than the ionisation models.
Monitored smoke alarms
- A monitored smoke alarm will help protect you and your family in case of smoke in the home.
- If your smoke alarms are hardwired, ensure all alarms are interconnected. That way if one smoke alarm sounds, all smoke alarms in your home will sound, alerting you to danger.
- An ADT monitored photoelectric alarm will protect you and your family against both blazing and smouldering fires. The alternative smoke alarms are ionisation detectors which are purchased over-the-counter and are proven less effective than photoelectric detectors in detecting smouldering fires. ADT photoelectric smoke detectors cannot be bought over the counter, they are only sold via authorised security and fire product wholesalers.
You can learn more about monitored security systems by checking out the ADT Life Safety Solutions available to you.
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