Importance of Smoke Detectors During Winter

Helpful Tips on Smoke Detectors

While smoke detectors are good idea no matter the season, the wintertime is especially important to make sure you have working smoke detectors in your home. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) recently launched its “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” campaign. Information about the campaign can be found online at www.usfa.gov.

The USFA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are working together to remind everyone that home fires are more prevalent in the winter than in any other season. The USFA states that the increase in winter home fires is due to an increase in cooking and heating related fires.

This increase in winter home fires makes having working smoke detectors installed in your home very important during the winter season. The NFPA recommends having a smoke detector installed on every floor, every sleeping area and in every bedroom of your home. It important to note that many homes currently have only one or two smoke detectors currently installed in their home. The low cost and reliability of smoke detectors make installing multiple detectors a smart idea.

It’s also a good idea to install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home. A CO detector should be installed on every level. The graphic below gives you an idea of where smoke and CO detectors should be installed in your home.

Battery powered smoke detectors can be purchased at any home improvement store. Installation is quick and easy. A licensed contractor should install hard-wired smoke detectors.

Another important reminder is to check the battery in your smoke and CO detectors. Fresh batteries should be installed in both types of detectors every year. A good practice is to change the batteries in all your detectors every time you change your clocks forward or back for daylight savings time adjustments.

Take the time today to make your home safe for the winter. Smoke and CO detectors save lives.