It is essential that all fire safety equipment in your home be properly maintained.

• Follow the directions provided for installation and operation of every fire safety device.
  
  
• Only use the batteries recommended by the equipment manufacturer. And NEVER remove them to silence a nuisance alarm caused by cooking or shower steam.
  
  
• Test alarms at least once a week to ensure they are in good working order and the batteries are fresh. All alarms have a test button. Replace batteries with time changes, in the spring and fall.
  
  
• Perform regular alarm maintenance and always keep unit clean (vacuum lightly around alarms).
  
  
• Check fire extinguisher gauges or “pindicators” regularly. A gauge should always read on the green area, and a pindicator should spring back when pushed.
  
  
• Replace smoke alarms that are older than 10 years – no matter how well they seem to work – and replace carbon monoxide alarms that are older than 5-7 years depending upon the manufacturer.