According to the NFPA, one out of every five home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound. In home fires where smoke alarms were present but didn’t operate, just under half had dead, missing or disconnected batteries. You should be changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors (at least) once a year, and checking them monthly. Some use the handy timeline of changing them at Daylight Saving Time so not to forget. If you have a second home, pick a date that you are there annually, to be sure that this important routine gets done. Consider a smart smoke alarm, which will alert you that your fire alarm is going off via your smart phone. Having Coast Home Watch of St. Augustine monitoring your home and checking your detectors, and on call to help if something should occur, is an invaluable resource. Give us a call to discuss how we can help with your absentee homeowner needs!
