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Takes about 2 minutes · do it tonight
How old are your smoke alarms?
Smoke alarms wear out. The U.S. Fire Administration says to replace them 10 years from the manufacture date, which is printed on the back. Most people have never looked. Twist each one off its base, read the date, and enter it here.
Do you have one everywhere you need one?
The smoke alarm is one item. RoomMend keeps the whole list.
We make RoomMend, a room-by-room home safety checklist for your own home or a parent’s. Tap the room, tap the issue (like “Alarm to test”, “Loose rug” or “Cord across path”) and it’s on your fix list with a suggested fix.
- Guided walkthroughs for bathrooms, hallways, stairs, kitchens and more, based on public guidance from the CDC, the National Institute on Aging, NFPA and CPSC.
- Tick a fix when it’s done and RoomMend reminds you to look again in 30 days.
- Big buttons and plain words. No address, location or account needed.
Where to find the date
Twist the alarm anticlockwise off its ceiling plate, or look at the side. You’re looking for “Date of manufacture”, “Mfg date” or a “replace by” date printed on the label. If there’s a replace-by date, go by that. If you can’t find any date at all, it’s very likely old enough to replace.
The rules, by type
| 9-volt battery alarm | Test monthly. Change the battery at least once a year. Replace the whole alarm 10 years from the manufacture date. |
|---|---|
| 10-year sealed battery | Test monthly. Don’t open it. When it chirps for low battery, replace the whole alarm, following the manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Hard-wired | Test monthly. Change the backup battery at least once a year. Replace the whole alarm every 10 years. An electrician or the manufacturer’s instructions can tell you whether a like-for-like swap is safe for you to do. |
| Carbon monoxide or combination | Check the label. Many CO alarms need replacing sooner than 10 years, and most give a replace-by date or an end-of-life chirp. |
Source: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), Smoke alarms: test monthly, replace 10 years from the manufacture date, and install inside and outside each bedroom and on every level. Your local fire service may install alarms free for some households; it’s worth asking.
Walking through the whole house? Use the home safety walkthrough checklist.
Questions people ask
How do I know how old my smoke alarm is?
Take it off the ceiling and look for the date of manufacture on the back or side. Smoke alarms should be replaced 10 years from that date. If there is no date, assume it is old enough to replace.
Do smoke alarms expire if they still beep when tested?
Yes. The sensors become less reliable with age, so the U.S. Fire Administration says to replace them 10 years from the manufacture date even if the test button still works.
How often should I test my smoke alarms?
Once a month, using the test button. The reminder button on this page adds a monthly event to your calendar.
Where should smoke alarms go?
Inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.
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