Ensuring your home is a safe and secure place for you and your family is a top priority, and a key part of this is making sure your smoke alarms are working correctly. While it's easy to take them for granted, regular checks are crucial for peace of mind.

 

 

One of the most important parts of home security is maintaining and checking all the fire alarms around your home.

It’s easy to take them for granted and just assume they’ll start working when you need them, but it’s important to make sure you regularly test smoke alarms to make sure you can rely on them in an emergency.

How to check your smoke alarms

You’ll find two smoke alarms In most Redrow homes - one for each floor of the house. Generally speaking, you’ll find these in the hallway or landing, attached to the ceiling. We recommend testing smoke alarms at least once a week. This is a really simple job, as shown in our guide below and the accompanying video.

 

 

How to test your smoke alarms

When it comes to checking your alarms, there are two main things to consider: that the alarm itself is working properly, and that there’s backup battery power.

To ensure that your alarm is working properly, locate the test button in the centre of the unit and push and hold it for 10 seconds. If the alarm is functioning correctly, it should sound loudly. In Redrow homes, most smoke alarms are interconnected, so testing one alarm may trigger others as well.

Your alarms are powered by the mains supply, as shown by a green light on each alarm. This indicates that the mains power is functioning correctly. Additionally, each alarm is equipped with a backup battery in case of a power outage. Always ensure that there is a battery installed in each alarm and pay attention to the regular beeping sound, which indicates that a battery is running low on power.

How to change the battery in a smoke alarm

Before replacing the battery in your alarm, it is crucial to turn off the power supply to each alarm at your consumer unit. Ensure that the green light on each alarm has turned off before proceeding to remove the cover.

To open the alarm, you will need a small flathead screwdriver. Locate the slot at the base of your unit and insert the screwdriver into it. Angling the screwdriver downwards, gently pull the alarm casing away to detach it. Once the casing is removed, you can proceed to remove the existing 9V battery and replace it with a new one. Finally, push the alarm back into its original position.

After replacing the battery, it is important to turn the power back on at the consumer unit. Before considering the task complete, don't forget to test your alarms again to ensure they are functioning correctly. Being confident that all the smoke alarms are up and running means you can fully relax and enjoy your home.

As well as their primary function, Redrow smoke alarms offer convenient features for daily life too. Occasionally, cooking fumes and steam may trigger the alarms, but you can quickly silence them by pressing the hush button. This can come in handy if you happen to encounter any cooking mishaps!

If you have any questions regarding your fire alarms, don't hesitate to reach out to your local Redrow team.