For years the national fire safety message that came along with the bi-annual changing of our clocks has been "Change your clock...change your smoke alarm batteries". In Oregon however our state laws require that if the smoke alarms in your home receive their power from only a battery, that the battery be considered a "long life" battery capable of ten years of continuous life. Obviously this poses a bit of a problem for Oregonians as the national message in effect actually voids the warranty on your battery operated smoke alarm. So what to do?
First, how old are your smoke alarms? All smoke alarms have about a ten year life span, once they get around 8 to 10 years old it is more likely that they will have more frequent false alarms, or worse yet fail to function when needed. If you have a smoke alarm, regardless of how it is powered and it is over ten years old replace it as soon as possible.
Second, identify if your smoke alarms are battery operated or if they are hard wired. Since 1998, battery operated smoke alarms sold in Oregon have been required to have a long life lithium battery that is designed to last ten years (conveniently the life of the smoke alarm). Now realistically we find that these batteries often times wont make it the entire ten years, but they consistently last longer then the older 9 volt Alkaline batteries we all used prior to the new style Lithium 9V.
If your smoke alarm is solely battery operated and does have a long life battery all you have to do is test it. You can do this by pushing the test button until you hear a beep. That should be all it takes to make sure your smoke alarm will function when needed. Really twice a year isn't enough though, you should test these smoke alarms monthly and when you do it is also a great time to practice a family fire drill.
If you find that you have a battery operated smoke alarm without a long life battery replace the entire smoke alarm with one that does have a long life battery. You can find these at most retail stores, locally Ace Hardware, Bi-Mart, and Fred Meyer all sell smoke alarms, as well as the big box home improvement stores in Hillsboro.
Not all of us have a battery operated smoke alarm however, modern homes have their smoke alarms wired into the home's electrical system. If this is the case a battery back up (for if the power goes out) is required, but it does not have to be of the long life variety. Since the smoke alarm receives its power from the home, a standard 9V alkaline battery will be able to keep your smoke alarm operating if the power in your home does go out. These alkaline back up batteries are the only battery you should replace in a smoke alarm when you change your clocks.
If you are a low income resident FGF&R has a smoke alarm assistance program that is funded solely through private donations and grants that allows us to help you. You can call our fire station at 503.992.3240 and one of our firefighters will make sure that we get a smoke alarm out to you and we'll even install it in your home.
So you're changing your clocks this weekend, now what...
- If your smoke alarm is ten years old, replace it.
- If your smoke alarm is battery operated and has a long life battery, test it.
- If your smoke alarm is hard wired, replace the back up battery.
- If your smoke alarm is battery operated and does not have a long life battery, and is less then ten years old, get a long life battery for it.
Smoke alarm tips
- Install smoke alarms on each story of your home and outside all sleeping areas. If you sleep with your bedroom door shut a smoke alarm inside your bedroom is recommended.
- Clean your smoke alarm every so often, a little vacuum or computer keyboard cleaner will help keep the dust, and little mites and spiders that come with it from making a home inside your smoke alarm and creating false alarms.
- Test it! You walk past it each day and probably never notice it, but it takes only seconds to make sure it will work. In a fire the smoke is what kills, testing your smoke alarm monthly will drastically improve your chances of surviving a fire in your home.
- Practice, practice, practice a fire drill. Kids in school have to practice a fire drill every month, it seems so redundant at times, but our statistics prove that people do not lose their lives in school fires. Most fire deaths in Oregon occur in the home (most occur in homes without a working smoke alarm), and often times we find that families aren't prepared to handle an emergency in their homes. A simple family fire drill at different times of the day/night every month can help you all identify how to get out and what to do. The State Fire Marshal has a excellent fire drill form that your family can use to prepare and practice this absolutely vital safety item.
- If you have a false alarm, use the "hush" feature on your smoke alarms (also an Oregon requirement since 1998) to silence your alarm temporarily. Never unplug your alarm or remove it.
