October 3–9 is Fire Prevention Week! In its honor, here are some tips for checking, testing, and listening for your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

SMOKE ALARMS

• A continued set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 911, and stay out.
• A single “chirp” every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
• All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) ALARMS

• A continuous set of four loud beeps—beep, beep, beep, beep—means carbon monoxide is present in your home. Go outside, call 911, and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be replaced.
• CO alarms have “end of life” sounds that vary by manufacturer. This means it’s time to get a new CO alarm.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.

Photo credit: StraightTalk, NFPA