How many do I need and where do I put them?

• The primary job of your smoke detector is to protect you from fires while you are sleeping. Locate smoke detectors between any sleeping persons and the rest of the house - outside bedrooms or sleeping areas.

• In multi-story homes, fires on a floor level without a smoke detector can grow to dangerous conditions before sufficient smoke can rise in a stairway to set off a detector on the upper floor. Based on this observation, most codes require that additional smoke detectors be located on each floor level of the home, including the basement.

• Many fatal fires begin late at night or in the early morning. A closed door provides protection from smoke on the other side, but will also prevent smoke from reaching a smoke detector. This is particularly a problem in bedrooms. If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, you should add a smoke detector in the bedroom; particularly if you smoke in the bedroom or there is a TV, air conditioner, or other major appliance in the bedroom that might start a fire. If you sleep with the bedroom door open, the detector in the hall outside will detect a fire in the bedroom or elsewhere. For extra safety, install smoke detectors both inside and outside sleeping areas.

• Do not place a smoke detector near the kitchen. Cooking fumes are likely to set it off regularly.

• Do not place a smoke detector in the garage. Car exhause fumes will likely set it off.

Are smoke detectors hard to install?

• Most are very easy to install. Some will require a screwdriver while others are self-adhesive and automatically stick to the wall or ceiling where they are placed.

• Follow the manufacturers instructions because each brand is different.

• If you are uncomfortable standing on a ladder, ask a relative or friend for help.

• Some fire departments will actually install a smoke detector in your home for you. Call you local fire department (use a non-emergency phone number) if you have problems installing a smoke detector.

How should a smoke detector be installed?

• Smoke detectors are normally installed on the ceiling or high on the wall, with the top of the detector not closer than 4 inches nor further than 12 inches from the ceiling.

• Smoke detectors should be no closer than 3 feet from supply registers of forced air heating systems (that might blow on the detector preventing it from seeing smoke).

• Smoke detectors should be no closer than 3 feet from the door to a kitchen or a bathroom containing a shower (steam can set the detector off when the door is opened).

• If mounting a smoke detector on a wall, place it on an interior wall rather than an exterior wall. Temperature variations at an exterior wall can prevent smoke from getting to the detector.

• Older adults may have difficulty reaching detectors on ceilings to change batteries. If house-powered detectors are impractical, wall mounting smoke detectors 12 inches down from the ceiling should be considered.

How do I keep my smoke detector working?

• Replace the batteries at least once a year. When the battery (usually a 9-volt) needs changing, the smoke detector will begin to "chirp" every 20 seconds or so, which will persist for a month. To avoid this nuisance, pick a day and give your detectors new batteries each year on that day. Some fire safety organizations promote "change your clocks, change your batteries," when the change is made from daylight savings time each fall.
   

• Keep your smoke detector clean. Dust and debris can interfere with their operation, so vacuum over and around your smoke detector regularly.