Every year in the United States, about 3,000 people die in residential fires.

Most fire victims die from smoke inhalation, not as a result of burns.

Most deaths occur in fires that happen at night while the victims are asleep.

In nearly all cases, there is either no smoke alarm or the alarm was not functioning, usually because the battery had been removed.

Smoke alarms do save lives.

There are two basic types of smoke detectors.

We’re not going to worry about the physics of each, just know that one type is more sensitive than the other. We’ll come back to that point.

Building codes have changed over time, meaning that we now require more smoke detectors than what were required when your home was built.

At an absolute minimum, you should locate a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially outside the bedrooms.

Today, building codes require a smoke detector inside each bedroom, as well.

Because working alarms save lives, it is important to keep them functioning.

You should test them at least once a month – manufacturers suggest testing weekly.

Look for a button that says Push To Test. Push it in and hold it ‘til the alarm sounds.

If the alarm doesn’t sound, it may just have a dead battery. Replace the battery and try again.

If it still fails the test, replace the alarm.

Some smoke detectors are wired into your house electrical system; we say they are hard wired. Most of those will also have a battery back up in case of power failure.

These are required to have at least a 1-year battery in them, which should be changed annually. Do it when you reset your clocks for daylight savings or on your birthday each year so you won’t forget.

All battery-operated detectors are now required to have a ten-year, lithium battery.

One of the most common failures occurs when the battery voltage gets low and the smoke alarm begins to chirp. Of course, this always happens in the middle of the night when you are trying to sleep. It is not a good idea to remove the battery, because it is still functional. But, if you do, don’t forget to replace it the next morning.

Another reason people remove the battery is because the detector is too sensitive. In our house we used to call it the toast alarm, because when mom made toast, the alarm went off.

Remember when I said there were two types of smoke detection? The most sensitive one has an ionization chamber.

If you have a toast alarm or a shower alarm, you should look for one with a photo-electric detection system. Because of the way it operates, it tends to be less sensitive.

Like everything else in your home, smoke detectors come with operating and maintenance instructions. What I’ve given you is very general. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s suggestions.