Life Safety and Fire Protection

The Fire Protection and Life Safety system in your home consists of smoke alarms, smoke/CO combination alarms, and a heat detector. These alarms have been installed in compliance with the State Fire Code RSA 153:1, VI-a. In addition, the type and locations of all devices have been approved by the local jurisdiction, Epping Fire Department. The care and maintenance of these alarms are the homeowner’s responsibility. For your convenience, we have provided the care and maintenance instructions recommended by the manufacturer below.

Testing:

All the home’s alarms are interconnected and hardwired into the electrical system with a battery backup. Per the manufacturer, the alarms need to be tested weekly. To do this, simply press and hold the “TEST” button on one of the alarms and allow 10–15 seconds of unison alarming before they automatically shut off. The light will turn green and the alarm will silence if the test is successful and no problems are present.

If the light turns red or the alarm continues to sound, there is likely an issue with the batteries, or there is something blocking the sensors inside. See the cleaning and battery information below.

Cleaning:

Keeping the casing and vents of the alarm clear of dust, pet hair, or other debris is the best way to ensure your alarms will only go off when there is a smoke/CO/heat issue. Alarms need to be cleaned once a month by using a damp cloth or a small attachment on a vacuum cleaner to clean the vents and sensors. Insect activity is also very common. Keeping the area free of webs and monitoring the area to stop activity as it happens is a great way to keep your alarms protected.

Batteries:

Alarm batteries should be replaced every 6 months, even for hardwired models. You can find the approved battery models on the rear side of each alarm. You cannot use the Energizer Max 9-volt or any other battery other than the approved models. Energizer Max is known to cause false alarms in these alarms. The chips within the alarms are smart and are made to determine the strength of the battery. Using a Kidde-approved battery is the best way to stop unnecessary alarming.

Though faulty smoke alarms do occur, it is not common, and faulty alarms typically will not be able to reset after going off. Kidde alarms have sensitive, advanced chips and will sound under the right circumstances (dust, animal hair, insect activity, etc.). You should perform regular maintenance to avoid chirping and false alarms.

Please see these links for more information:

| Effects of Humidity | Maintenance | Causes of Chirping | Causes of Beeping | Is My Alarm Working? |