Replace or Test Smoke Detectors Around Your House

Ring in the New Year by replacing or testing your smoke detectors around your house.

The signs that winter is here are everywhere — crisp, cold mornings and pumpkin spice lattes abound. This also means you’ll likely be spending more time indoors for the next few weeks, warming your home with your heating system. Rest assured that your house is not only a cozy place to retreat to, but also a safe one, by checking your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors today.

Checking Your Detectors

It’s advised that you check the batteries on your detectors monthly by simply pressing the “test” button on them. If you don’t hear a sound when you test them, it’s time to install new batteries.

Although your alarms may sound with that pesky, attention-getting chirp when it’s time to replace the batteries, there is no obvious indication when your detectors have reached the end of their lives. Detectors that have reached their expiration should be replaced immediately. The following tips will help you ensure your detectors are in proper working order in your home:

• Remove detectors from your ceilings and walls and check the manufacture date on the back of them to find out how old they are.
• Carbon monoxide detectors last on average between 5 to 7 years.
• Smoke detectors last about 10 years.
• Position carbon monoxide detectors on all of the levels in your home. They should be installed in hallways close to bedrooms, at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances and at least 15 inches from ceilings.
• Smoke detectors should be on every level of your home, in each bedroom and outside of bedrooms (i.e. hallways). Larger homes may need more detectors than this.

When It’s Time to Replace Detectors

There are detectors that offer digital displays and some models even come with voice alerts. Smoke detectors can be interconnected — when one sounds, they all start to sound, quickly alerting you to a problem. Carbon monoxide detectors with a “fuel-cell electrochemical” sensor are the most accurate.

Smoke Detector Program

The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department will provide and install a free smoke detector for any qualifying Jacksonville resident living in a single-family or two-family residence. The department also will install replacement batteries in existing smoke detectors at no charge.

Smoke detectors help save lives by warning residents of a fire in time to escape.

For a free smoke detector or to arrange to have the batteries in an existing device replaced, call 904-630-CITY (2489). It should be re-emphasized that not everyone will be eligible or meet the criteria for the service, due to the limited resources available. Exclusionary examples from the benefits of the free smoke detector program include businesses, contractors and rental properties.

Businesses, organizations or individuals who want to help prevent residential fire deaths through increased use of smoke detectors can contribute to the Mayor’s Home Fire Safety Program. Call 904-630-0445 for more information.

Cool Connections, Inc. – Your Jacksonville, Florida HVAC Specialists

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Greater Jacksonville, Florida area about protecting their investment as well as energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). If you require a new system or maintenance on your current HVAC system, contact us to schedule an appointment.

Cool Connections, Inc. is a locally owned and operated business. We have thousands of customers and years of experience with HVAC service, repair, and installations for furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioning (AC) and air quality systems. Be sure to Contact Cool Connections, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida for all your air conditioning and heating needs. (904) 908-5252