Test Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Your best defense against smoke and carbon monoxide is an alarm installed near fuel-burning appliances and near all sleeping areas. But they are not much of a defense if they don't work. 
What?
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. If your home has a security system connected to a central station, contact the alarms company before testing the smoke alarms.
When?
Alarms should be tested monthly.
How?
Press the TEST button, but it's important to realize that this TEST button is not testing the ability of the device to detect smoke and carbon monoxide. Instead, you are testing the ability of the detector to sound an alarm.
In general, alarms manufactured after October 1998 are more likely to perform properly. Alarms have a life expectancy of approximately 10 years. If you don't know how old the smoke alarms are, replace them.
Tip
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can be battery powered; we recommend and install AC powered with a battery backup. Since most oil-fired and gas-fired appliances will not operate during a power failure, alarms with their own power supply may not offer a huge advantage. On the other hand, if you heat with wood, an alarm which will operate during a power failure is a big plus.
We only install alarms that meet Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 2034 Standard.
If any of your alarms go off, immediately call the fire department (911) and evacuate everyone from the home.
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M.J. Rooney Electrical Contracting, Ltd.
Located in:
White Plains, New York
Phone: 914-681-1334