The 'difference between life and death' – home maintenance experts reveal 3 smoke alarm tests you must do in October

They're absolutely vital for your safety – but when was the last time you checked your smoke alarm?

According to our home maintenance experts, now, in October, is the perfect time to do so, particularly during fire prevention week, which ends tomorrow.

Here are the three tasks they recommend getting done as soon as possible, including testing your smoke detector to keep yourself, your family, and your home safe from danger.

3 simple smoke alarm maintenance tasks to do in October, according to pros

1. Test your smoke alarm

First things first, begin by testing your smoke alarm. 'Reason being, it can be the difference between life or death,' says Darius Kordabadi, CEO of Kord Fire Protection. 'It can also save you from fines and high maintenance cost.'

To do so, advises Scott Kegerreis, owner of Kura Home Services, 'Press and hold the test button until you hear the alarm.'

This is vital as a working smoke alarm is one of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid any common fire risks in your home, and Christmas mistakes that increase the risk of home fires.

'It is also smart to check the expiration date on the unit itself,' adds Scott. 'Most smoke alarms need to be replaced every 8-10 years.'

2. Replace any batteries

Next, replace any batteries. This is obviously important if, when testing, the alarm is weak or doesn't go off, but it should be done even if they're not dead yet, advises Scott.

'Most people do this in October because it coincides with Fire Prevention Week, so it's the perfect time,' he says.

To make this quick and easy, we recommend keeping the Ontel Battery Daddy Storage & Organizer Case available at Amazon fully stocked throughout the year. It includes a battery tester, too, so you can check that the batteries you're putting into your smoke alarm are safe for use.

You can also upgrade to a smart smoke detector, which will handily let you know when the batteries need replacing.

3. Clean your smoke detector

Finally, your smoke alarm is one of the things you should clean in October, too.

'For simple cleaning, keep an eye on the smoke alarm,' says Darius. 'Make sure it isn't painted over, damaged, and a common one, isn't covered in grime, dust, or accidentally covered up, as that can prevent it from picking up smoke that is in the air.

'Utilizing compressed air [such as the Innovera Compressed Air Duster Cleaner available at Amazon] to remove any dust and particulates can help keep it clear.'

Alternatively, adds Scott, 'use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment,' or the Cen-Tec Systems Premium Dusting Brush Vacuum Tool, also available at Amazon.

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Meet our experts

Scott Kegerreis

Scott is the owner of Kura Home Services, specializing in preventative home maintenance.

Jonathan Espinoza

Darius has decades of experience in this fire safety field. The mission of Korf Fire Protection is to make fire safety simple, accessible, and effective for families and businesses alike.

'This is all important because smoke alarms are the first line of defense if there is a fire,' says Scott. 'Dust and debris can block sensors. Weak batteries could fail in an emergency, and outdated systems might not be able to detect smoke effectively.

'That's why it's good to take a few minutes, once a year, to make sure everything is up to date and working.'

Don't forget to keep up to date with where to install carbon monoxide alarms, too, which should be used alongside your smoke alarms for added, and vitally important, safety.