Home Smoke Detectors

- Location of Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors should be installed on every floor of your home including the basement, outside each separate sleeping area, and inside all sleeping rooms.  It is recommended that detectors be wired together so when one sounds, they all sound.  On floors without bedrooms, install detectors near the stairway leading to the floor above, in or near dens, living rooms, family rooms and other living areas.  Do NOT install detectors in kitchens, bathrooms or garages where nuisance alarms go off routinely. 

- Mounting Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors should be mounted high on the wall or ceiling.  If mounted on the wall, position the top of the detector 4 to 12 inches away from the nearest wall and within 3 feet of the door inside the bedroom.  If mounted on the ceiling, position detectors at least 4 inches away from the nearest wall and within 3 feet of the door inside the bedroom.  If mounted in open stairways, position the detector anywhere along the path smoke would travel up the stairs. If mounted in closed stairways, position the detector at the bottom of the stairway.  Do NOT mount a detector near a window, outside door or forced-air register.

- Maintaining Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors should be tested monthly for proper operation.  It is recommended that you install new batteries when the clocks are set back in the fall and ahead in the spring.  Replace any detector that is more than ten years old.