Guardian Fire Protection has an excellent blog you may like to check out here is there latest article they have posted.
http://www.guardianfireprotection.com/blog/
Why You Need to Test Your Fire Alarms
You probably already know this, but well-maintained smoke alarms are the simplest and most effective means of preventing deadly fires in your home. The most basic rules for fire alarms are as follows:
• Test your alarms once a month
• Replace the batteries once a year
In addition, you and your family should develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year. Make sure you designate the quickest route out of every room as well as a spot outside to meet up and regroup.
Fires cost millions of dollars in property damage every year and take about 3,000 lives. Contrary to popular belief, most deaths from home fires are not caused by burns, but by smoke inhalation. And while most fires start between the hours of 5pmand 8pm (around dinnertime), most deaths and injuries occur from fires that happen at night, while people are asleep. This is where properly maintained smoke alarms come in most handy – they cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 50%!
As a result, it’s critically important you make a habit out of testing your smoke alarms and replacing the batteries. To make it easier, pick a date and write it on the calendar every month. Also, make changing the batteries a seasonal routine (most people recommend changing them every time you change your clocks). Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for testing your smoke alarms and changing the batteries.
Note: if your smoke alarm makes a chirping noise, this means that the battery is getting low – you’ll need to replace it as soon as possible to ensure the smoke alarm will continue to work properly.Make sure you never disable a chirping smoke alarm, no matter how annoying it gets. If it’s located in a place like the kitchen or bathroom, steam may be causing it to go off. Relocate it away from the source of the steam, dust or other persistent aggravator.
When you replace your smoke alarm batteries, you should also replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when any fuel is incompletely burned. About 150 people die each year from non-fire, carbon monoxide poisoning associated with home fuel-burning heating equipment. For more information on CO, see CPSC Publication #466.
CPSC recommends the following on smoke alarms:
• Install a working smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms.
• Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Replace smoke alarm batteries at least annually, such as when resetting clocks in the fall or spring.
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