Have you checked your smoke alarm recently?

My kid brother just rented his first places. I think I will go see if he has smoke alarms in it. If he doesn't then I will get him a few. If he does replace the batteries for him.

THANK YOU ! you may have saved a life.

Your parents were given plenty of warning that the battery was dying...all smoke alarms that I have had begin to chirp when the battery gets low. I want to know what kind of space or baseboard heater they have that reaches 412 degrees F ! That is one dangerous heater to use indoors. Ceramic heaters have safety switches on them that shut them down when the case reaches a dangerous level or if they tip over. Buy them not only a new battery, but a new heater! It sounds as if the oil filled "radiator type" might be more their style. And, smoke alarms are so cheap, you can install one in every room...I see them regularly at less than 20.00, not much money to pay considering what fire can cost. While you are at it, you might want to consider installing a carbon monoxide detector also. Phil

We have smoke detectors and when the battery is low it emits an annoying bleeping noise so we know to change the battery. It is a good idea to check the alarm at least once a month to ensure they work properly.

Our downstairs alarm goes off if we are grilling food, especially cheese on toast, and we don't open our back door. We live in an open plan house which is the reason it sets it off. Our dog goes absolutely bonkers when the alarm goes off due to it being a very high pitched sound. Annoying it may be but at least we know the alarms are in good working order. Good question btw.

Oooh that's a scary story and so true. My alarm is electric and needs no batteries, got it checked by our local fire dept . I knew something was wrong one day when the kettle boiled away, I didn't notice and no alarm went off. Called the landlord to have him check it out and the fire dept came with him , installed a new fire alarm. They did the whole building, all 9 units.

Always good to check those batteries either at the new year or when daylight savings time starts and ends.

I change the batteries every 6 months. And at least once a month I will test them. Spare heaters are not allowed in my home. Plenty of blankets though, but we are well heated anyway. We use a pellet stove with oil heat has back up. Only draw back is I need a generator if I should lose power.

Well, now you know you have your job cut out for you. Change all the batteries and install extra detectors. I did.

I know you're absolutely right. In our house, we are the seniors. However, I have never been able to find a spot to put the fire alarm, where it won't go off every time my husband cooks - and I'm serious. Nearly every time he cooked when it was hooked up, we had to endure that piercing sound. The way our house is designed any smoke in the kitchen is more noticable in the hallway than even in the kitchen. I wish they'd make an alarm you could switch on at bedtime and switch off in the morning.

Whoah! Sorry to hear that.

I did check my smoke alarms. And the weird thing is, that smoke does not always set them off. Burned some popcorn [not me] a couple weeks ago in the microwave, filled the house with smoke, but "no alarm." I had stepped out just for three minutes, and walked back inside to a fog! Had to open all the windows. Whew!

Great question for a heads-up.

Snow Globe,

Thanks for the information and glad everyone is safe.

I reside in a 2 story Condo and have a long narrow living room with one on each end plus 2 upstairs. I aslo installed a Carbon Monoxide detector in the stairwell. I check the batteries frequently and change them twice a year when we change the clocks.

I am like Joshua where a red light starts flashing on mine. And, if you ignore that for a couple days, it starts sounding a one second warning. I just watched a special on the news where alot of fire departments are giving out free smoke alarms with a type of photo sensor that works better than what most people have in their homes. If you can't afford a smoke alarm, I would call your local fire department and ask for one.

That is a good tip. My smoke alarm lets out a most annoyong beep when the battery is getting low. However I have on ly heard it beep once as I now change the batteries every time we change to and from daylight saving.

Excellent question!! Yes we just checked our Sat.We do this at least once a month.There are so many people without or non working smoke detectors in there homes and if they had just one it most likely would have saved there life when I fire broke out.Also everyone needs a escape rout and now the Stop Drop and Roll routine's and have at least One fire extinguisher on there House and know how to use it,Even younger children need to now how to use it.