Your home’s first line of defense against fires and smoke are its smoke detectors. These devices pick up on smoke in the air and alert you to its presence. The idea is that the alarm will activate and ...

Q: My home has hard-wired smoke detectors. How often do I need to replace them, and what kind of replacements do I need? Can I do it myself, or do I need a professional? And if I need a pro, what kind ...

Q: I changed the batteries in my smoke detector, but when I tested it afterward nothing happened. The batteries are new, but the smoke detector is very old. I know that it’s hard-wired into my home’s ...

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Why are you reading about smoke detectors, may you ask? Well, for one, they can save your life — indicating the onset of a fire at home. According to the “Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires” report by the ...