Smoke Detectors Save Lives in Austin & Albert Lea

Smoke Damage in Austin & Albert Lea

SERVPRO^® of Austin & Albert Lea is an expert in restoring property damage in Sioux County, Iowa. When buildings, cars, or valuables suffer from smoke damage or fire damage, call SERVPRO of Austin & Albert Lea at 507-396-6644. We have 24/7 emergency service even on holidays.

Smoke Detectors

To mangle a cliché: prevention is the best restoration. Smoke detectors prevent damage by giving people enough to time escape the fire, or – in some cases – enough time to put out the fire and vent the smoke so that it doesn’t cause extensive damage.

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) urges residents and business owners to install smoke detectors to prevent injuries, deaths, and extensive damage. Smoke detectors (also called “smoke alarms”) cut the likelihood of fatalities in half … but only if the detectors are working.

Necessary, Not Musical

Most of us at SERVPRO of Austin & Albert Lea have heard the shrieks of smoke detectors in at least one non-emergency, and we agree that the sound is obnoxious. That horrendous sound is part of what makes the alarms function.

Do not disable smoke detectors, do make sure they have working batteries, and do place them in the right parts of the building.

Derail the smoke; don’t disable the detector

If a smoky sauté or a hot-pepper extravaganza sets off the smoke detector, don’t give up on cooking, and don’t remove the batteries from smoke detectors. Instead, set up a fan to move the smoke away, preferably out a window.

Test the smoke detectors regularly

The NFPA suggests testing the smoke detectors regularly (once a month), and changing the batteries twice a year. Choose dates that are easy to remember, or mark them on your phone’s calendar.

Placement

• Smoke rises, so place smoke detectors on ceilings or up high on walls (no more than 1 foot from the ceiling to the top of the detector)
• The NFPA found the wall-mounted smoke detectors provide warnings sooner than do ceiling-mounted smoke detectors
• Place smoke detectors at least 10 feet from cooking appliances to reduce the risk of false alarms
• There should be at least one smoke detector on each floor, with larger buildings needing more
• In residences, install smoke detectors inside each bedroom as well as outside of the sleeping areas
• Place basement smoke detectors near the stairs to the upper levels
• Don’t decorate or paint smoke detectors as that can interfere with the detectors
• The safest practice is to have the smoke detectors inter-connected – if smoke sets off one smoke detector, all of the alarms will be set off