Kitchen Smoke Detector Placement
The kitchen is one of the most common places for a house fire to start. However, it is also the most common place for a smoke detector to be disabled or removed. Fire safety in the kitchen means having a working smoke detector in place. Install the device 10 to 12 feet away from cooking appliances to help reduce the number of false alarms.
Bedrooms and Sleeping Areas
Because you cannot guess where or when a fire may start and family members are less alert when sleeping, install smoke detectors inside and outside of every bedroom and anywhere else in the home that is used for sleeping. If there’s a couch in the office or a comfortable recliner in the living room where you enjoy taking naps, install smoke detecting devices in those areas as well.
Other Spaces for Smoke Detector Placement
Install a smoke detector in your laundry room. The heat of the dryer combined with excess clothing lint, which is highly flammable, creates a dangerous situation that can cause a house fire. If your home has more than one level, add smoke detectors on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs. The devices will warn anyone upstairs if a fire breaks out below. Be sure to also install detectors in the garage, basement, and inside your outbuilding or storage shed.
Smoke Detectors in the Home
When installing smoke detectors, place them on the ceiling or high on the walls, within 12 inches of the ceiling. Don’t install the devices near HVAC vents, doors, windows, or ceiling fans. Air currents will divert smoke and impact the effectiveness of the detector. If you’re remodeling, take care to keep paint off the smoke detectors. Test each device monthly and replace the batteries twice every year. The smoke detector should be replaced after 10 years.
Northern Florida Home Inspections provides inspection services to customers in northern Florida. Contact us to schedule an appointment.