October is Fire Prevention Month, as recognized by the National Fire Protection Association. It's an ideal time to remind homeowners about essential safety tasks that can save lives. Often, your home inspector gave you a basic idea of the age of your detectors or when they were installed when you bought your home. Now is the time to review the action steps you may have taken—or forgotten.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Installation: Familiarize yourself with local requirements. For instance, in Denver, every sleeping area must have a smoke alarm inside each room. Other areas may only require one outside each sleeping area. Check your city's regulations.
- Testing: Regular testing ensures your alarms are operational and have a reliable power source. Newer units have a 10-year battery, though you can still purchase the only type available from international suppliers.
- Replacement: All smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years not just the batteries.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
These may be required on every floor, particularly in areas with gas appliances or sleeping areas. At HouseMaster Denver, our recent focus on Denver Residential Rental Licensing Inspections has highlighted numerous homes with outdated or missing alarms. These alarms are crucial for alerting individuals to smoke or carbon monoxide, providing vital time to evacuate safely.
Fire Extinguishers
Don’t forget about the tools used to put out any unwanted fires in your home. It is recommended to mount a fire extinguisher by every exit door so that anyone in the home can find one easily.
