Smoke alarms don’t last forever

It’s common knowledge that the batteries on smoke alarms need replacement – but did you know that the units themselves expire, too?

“Age matters when it comes to your smoke alarms,” the U.S. Fire Administration tells us.

That means it’s important to check the manufacture date on your smoke alarm.

Here’s how:

1. One at a time, locate and then remove each smoke alarm in your home from its place on the wall or ceiling.
2. Turn the alarm over, and look for the date of manufacture.
3. If your alarm was manufactured within the past 10 years, you’re safe. But if it’s older, time to get a new one.
4. Put your safe alarms back where you found them.

Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the highest level of protection, the USFA recommends making sure all smoke alarms are interconnected – when one sounds, they all sound.