So if you’re out of your home and not near your phone when the messages come through, you’ll have no way of knowing the alarm was sounding.

The ideal position is on the ceiling, in the middle of a room, and on the hallway and landing, so you can hear an alarm throughout your home.And whatever alarm you have, you should also be cleaning it from time to time. A build-up of dust, fibres or cobwebs can interfere with its operation. Using a vacuum cleaner around the case of the alarm and wiping it with a cloth is all you need to do to maintain any alarm. Every alarm only really has a life of around 10 years, so you should replace them after this time. Some smoke alarms have a date printed on them, to let you know when to change the alarm. If not, just write the date on the alarm when you install it. When possible, the smoke alarm needs to be fitted in the centre of the ceiling. This is because smoke rises, and this is where the smoke will build up first. Some smart models sound an alarm on your smartphone and through the alarm itself when triggered – this is the most helpful kind of smart alarm. Buying a smoke alarm could help save your home and the lives of you and your family. What are smoke alarms?

CR's take: Another good choice for a battery-powered detector is the Kidde PI9010. This top-notch detector receives strong scores in our tests for flaming fires and smoldering fires. It features a hush button and runs on a single 9-volt battery, but it can't interconnect with other detectors. 2. Why does my battery operated smoke alarm keep beeping?Unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless it has a thermostat control for safe all-night use.

Also, make sure you mount it where it is easy to access. Placing it above the stairs is just making life needlessly difficult for yourself. If you have a TV or other large electrical appliance in your bedroom, you should fit a smoke alarm there. Looking after your smoke alarm But if you really do have your doubts, then you can test it using a synthetic smoke aerosol. This is safe, and it ensures enough smoke enters the alarm to properly test it. Lithium batteries have a much higher capacity than their alkaline counterpart. They also have a slightly higher initial voltage as well as a longer shelf life. Lithium batteries are able to store more energy than any other kind of battery that’s of a comparable size. Because of this, lithium batteries are the best choice to use when it comes to devices that have a high drain, because the battery will typically last much longer in these kinds of devices compared to alkaline batteries. On a lighter note, Google’s data also revealed that the day when smoke alarms are most likely to sound in the UK is pancake day. Is the Nest Protect smoke and CO alarm suitable for homes in Scotland now that the law has changed?Don’t put alarms in or near kitchens or bathrooms where smoke or steam can set them off by accident. Many smoke detectors available today claim that they’ll keep the battery for 10 years. Although that might be the case, I’ve never been one to try and test that out. Most smoke alarms now have hush buttons, for use where false alarms can be a nuisance e.g. when cooking. The alarm lets you know it’s been silenced by “chirping” or by displaying a red light – while a real fire producing lots of smoke will set it off anyway. Another helpful technology is the ‘Sleep-Easy Function’ which allows you to silence the alarm if a low battery beep starts in the middle of the night. In Scotland, since February 2022, interlinked smoke and heat alarms have needed to be fitted in all homes. But with so many different varieties, which one do you chose? Then where do you put it? And how many do you need?