How to Really Check Your Smoke Detector

Supplies for properly checking your smoke detector

Turn on the lights in the room with the smoke detector you want to check. Make sure you have your matches and the hand fan, magazine, or folded newspaper before you climb the ladder.

Ladder manufacturer's warning label

Properly set up and stabilize your step ladder. Ensure that the ladder is tall enough for you to reach up to your detector without exceeding the manufacturer's recommendations for the ladder, i.e., climbing too far up the ladder and making it unstable.

Climb the ladder with the wooden kitchen or fireplace matches and the hand fan (or magazine or folded newspaper).

Smoke from smoldering match enters the detection chamber

Strike the match, let it burn for two seconds, then gently blow it out. Hold the now smoking match 2-3 inches below the detector and allow the smoke to enter the detector housing.

Fan the detector to purge the smoke from the detection chamber

Once the detector sounds the audible warning, remove the smoking match from the vicinity of the detector. Use the fan, magazine, or folded newspaper to "fan" the detector so that fresh air clears the smoke detection chamber. Once the detection chamber is clear, the audible alarm should cease to sound.

Proper disposal of used match

Safely descend the ladder and properly dispose of the used match. If your detector sounded after smoke entered the housing you know that your detector is functioning properly. If it did not, promptly replace the detector with a new one.