Smoke alarms are perhaps the most crucial part of any good fire safety system. Where there is smoke, there is fire, and a proper detector will alert anyone in the vicinity that trouble is afoot.
In order to give yourself a chance to act accordingly, it is important to test your smoke detectors fairly often. Knowing how to test them is a good idea and will ensure that your business is as prepared as possible for the event of a fire.
Smoke Detector Tester
While there are plenty of ways to test your smoke detectors (below, especially), you should have detector testers at hand. Whether for your business or home, a smoke detector tester will ensure that everything is working properly. More importantly, you can skip all of the DIY steps that most others will use.
A smoke detector tester uses a few simple steps to get the job done. Every few months, you can quickly test your detectors to ensure that they are fully functional. The worst thing that can happen with your smoke detectors is that they don’t do their job. Using a tester, you will never be caught off guard.
Check the Sensors
There are more than a few ways to test your smoke detectors. When you do test out your detectors, make sure that you test the sensors. You should look at everything manually but use an aerosol smoke detector tester by spraying it at the alarm. If it doesn’t go off in a few seconds, you may need to replace the batteries to start.
Be sure to check that there is no “silence” button on your smoke alarm. They can be activated to stop the beeping but shouldn’t be left on permanently. Make sure that there is no dust and/or dirt blocking the sensors either, because that is a distinct possibility as well. A little goes a long way when it comes to ensuring that your smoke detectors work as they were meant to.
Use Real Smoke if Possible
You can find several ways to test out your smoke detectors, but the best way to do it is with real smoke. No, you don’t need to start a fire to replicate the action, but a little bit of smoke from a match should be enough to get the job done. You may need two or three to really get the best results.
All you need to do is take those matches and light them from roughly two feet below the detector itself. If the alarm doesn’t trigger, try replacing the batteries. If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the smoke detector altogether.
Use the Test Button
For just about any smoke detector that you come across, there will be a test button somewhere on the underside. Find the button, push it down, and hold it for a few seconds. It should trigger the alarm. If it doesn’t, then the alarm isn’t getting the proper level of power. If it is battery powered, change them out. If it is hardwired, you might need to call an electrician.
Should the sound go off when you press the test button, it will turn off by itself after a few seconds. If it doesn’t, you might need to press the test button again. It all depends on what kind of smoke detector you have.
Be sure to change up your smoke detector every few years regardless of whether it works. Staying on top of them will ensure that your home or business is ready and alert for the potential threat of a fire.