Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: The 10-Minute Check Every Canton Home Needs

Test them monthly, change the batteries twice a year, and replace them before they expire. Here's where detectors belong, how to read the date on the back, and when to call an electrician.

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are easy to forget until one starts chirping at 3 a.m. A quick check a few times a year keeps them ready to do their job.

Test them every month

Press and hold the test button until the alarm sounds. If it's weak or silent, put in a fresh battery and test again. If it still doesn't sound, replace the detector.

Change the batteries twice a year

An easy way to remember is to change them when the clocks change in March and November. A chirp every minute or so means a battery is low, so swap it right away. If your detectors have sealed 10-year batteries, you can skip this step. Those are replaced as a whole unit when they expire.

Check the date on the back

Detectors don't last forever.

• Replace smoke detectors 10 years from the manufacture date printed on the back.
• Carbon monoxide detectors usually last 5 to 10 years, depending on the model. The replace-by date is printed on the unit.
• If you just bought your home, check every one. There's no way to know how old the previous owner's detectors are until you look.

Where they belong

• Smoke detectors go inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
• Carbon monoxide detectors go on every level and near the bedrooms if your home has gas appliances, a fireplace, or an attached garage.

Hardwired detectors

Many homes built in the last few decades have hardwired detectors that are connected to each other, so when one sounds, they all sound. These still have backup batteries to change. When it's time to replace them, the new units need to work with each other and with your wiring, so this is a good job for an electrician. If you'd like a name, text me and I'll connect you with the electrician I trust.

If the carbon monoxide alarm goes off

Get everyone outside to fresh air right away and call 911. Don't go back inside until the fire department says it's safe.

These checks take about 10 minutes, and they protect the people you love most. If you ever have questions about your home, I'm always happy to help.

Kate Valor is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty Partners, serving Canton, Georgia and the greater Cherokee County area.