Following the Christmas season of 1987, my family lost our home to an electrical fire. I was five years old at the time, however the loss had a lasting impact on me. Our passion at Expert Wire, for serving our clients and providing electrical safety, stems from that event.

 

Smoke detectors are perhaps the most important safety device in your home. With well-maintained smoke detectors, the odds of your family surviving a house fire are greatly increased. According to the National Fire Protection Association, from 2009-2013, nearly 40% of house fire fatalities occurred in homes without working smoke detectors. Most homes have smoke detectors (also called "smoke alarms") but many times they are not located properly or are not working due to lack of maintenance. Of course, a smoke detector in the wrong location or one that no longer works because it has a dead battery provides no protection for your family. 

 

The following tips will help you maximize protection for your home and family:

​​​

​​

• Location - In general, it's recommended that you have a smoke detector:
  1. At each level of your home
  2. In each bedroom
  3. Within 10 feet of the door to each bedroom

​

• Testing  – Test all smoke detectors at least once a month. Your detectors should have a test button located on the face of the unit.

​

• Battery replacement  – Smoke detectors should be hard-wired, meaning they're wired into your electrical system, and interconnected. When one sounds, they all sound. These should have back-up batteries, which can be regular (9-volt) batteries. Replace the back-up batteries annually. Another option is the 10-year lithium ("long-life") batteries. These are non-replaceable batteries. Instead, when the battery dies, the entire detector should be replaced. 

​

• Smoke Detector Life Span  – Many homeowners don't realize that smoke detectors have an expiration date. The National Fire Protection Association recommends replacing all smoke detectors in you home every 10 years.

​

• Regular Routine Maintenance – Like any other system, your electrical system needs periodic maintenance and visual inspections to keep it in prime operating condition. Expert Wire's electrical safety and savings plan, the Expert Club is designed to uncover, diagnose, and correct minor problems before they become costly or hazardous. While regular planned visual inspections is not a problem free guarantee, it is your best investment in the safe and reliable long term operation of your home's electrical power system. 

​

Get an Expert Electrician in the Delaware & Maryland beach areas.​

​

Ready to get the quality service you deserve? Contact Expert Wire Electrical Services today! At Expert Wire our primary goal is to bring you electrical safety and quality service with total satisfaction. Remember, leave the wiring to the Experts and have a powerful day!