“best before alarm”
Every spring and fall, residents are reminded to check and replace the batteries in their smoke alarms and CO2
detectors. This is a good practice, and since it is tied to a regular
calendar event, is easy to remember. Another less common but equally
important thing to remember is to check the expiry date (if any) on
your alarm units. These detectors have chemical strips or chambers that
react to gases. These mechanisms can break down over time. If your
smoke or carbon monoxide detector is over five years old, consider
replacing it. For more information, check with your local fire
department, or contact the warranty department for the unit. When you
do get a new unit, be sure the replacement year is clearly marked, so
you can check it as part of your spring and fall season battery changes.