False alarms can be a serious safety issue.
Firefighters could be sent to a call where they aren’t needed, making them unavailable for a true emergency.
False alarms can be easily prevented by following these simple steps:
Regular Maintenance
Smoke alarms should be tested once a month and every time you change the batteries.
This helps protect the safety and well-being of your family by ensuring you have properly functioning equipment.
Replace your smoke alarm batteries annually.
A smoke alarm should be replaced if it is more than 10 years old.
Proper Placement
Ensure smoke alarms are installed and placed properly. Smoke alarms should be at least 10 feet from the stove and oven.
Smoke alarms should not be placed in bathrooms or garages to avoid shower steam and dust.
Research shows it’s best to have an interconnected smoke alarm in every bedroom.
If Your Smoke Alarm is Accidentally Triggered
If your alarm system has been accidentally triggered, call your alarm monitoring company immediately so they can cancel or disarm the smoke alarm and prevent fire crews from being dispatched.
Some monitoring companies will try calling you before dialing 911 to ensure the alarm is a real emergency. Be sure to answer their call right away.
Correct Contact Information
Your alarm monitoring company should have your most up-to-date contact information so they can reach you at home.
Please also save the alarm monitoring company’s phone number to your phone, so you recognize it when they call to confirm if an alarm call coming from your home is a real emergency.
It is important to contact your alarm monitoring company when you disarm your alarm or before you test, repair or do maintenance on your smoke alarm.
Understanding Your Alarm System
Review your operator’s manual on how your alarm system operates.
When you move into a new home, ensure you have the necessary codes and/or passwords to contact the alarm monitoring company in the event of a false alarm.
