These tips will help to make sure your smoke alarms perform as intended – when you need them the most:
- A short, low beep every 60 seconds indicates the battery power is low and the battery needs replacing. Change your smoke alarm batteries every 12 months on either April 1st, or at the end of daylight saving, and use a long-lasting alkaline battery.
- Smoke alarms should be tested monthly by pressing the test button with a broom handle.
- Smoke alarms should be vacuumed regularly – at a minimum once a year – to clean the vents.
- Electric powered smoke alarms also have back-up batteries – check with the manufacturer if your model has batteries that need to be replaced regularly, or whether it has a re-chargeable battery.
- Fire Services recommend that you replace your smoke alarm (both battery powered and 240v hard-wired types) after ten years as it may start to fail after this period. A year of manufacture date is displayed on all smoke alarms.
