How Often Should I Replace My Smoke Alarm in My House?

To protect against home fires, make sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly.

Outdated Smoke Alarms

While it's fairly common knowledge that the batteries in smoke alarms need to be changed every year, you might not know that the alarms themselves can become outdated. The National Fire Protection Association states that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years to to lower the risk that they could fail.

Check Alarms Regularly

While fire safety groups do recommend smoke alarms be changed every 10 years, it is possible that you could check your smoke alarm on a monthly basis to make sure it is working correctly and get a longer life out of it.

Bottom Line

According to the National Fire Protection Association, homeowners should replace their smoke alarms every 10 years. You also should test them monthly during that time by pushing the test button to make sure they are still functioning properly.

References

• National Fire Protection Association: Smoke Alarm Safety Tips