Safety · high safety risk
Test smoke and CO alarms
Confirm every alarm sounds and is ready when you need it.
- How often
- Monthly
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Editorial status
- Awaiting human review
Before you begin
Supplies
- Manufacturer-approved batteries, when replaceable
How to do it
- Tell everyone in the home that you are testing alarms.
- Press and hold each test button until the alarm sounds.
- Replace weak batteries and any alarm that does not respond.
- Confirm alarms are present on every level and near sleeping areas.
Stop and get help when
- Unexpected alarm
- Visible damage
- Alarm does not sound during test
Replace a nonresponsive alarm according to its manufacturer instructions. Contact emergency services for an active alarm or suspected fire or carbon monoxide exposure.
Sources and review
Written by Upkeeping editorial team. This draft is awaiting human subject-matter and safety review and is not eligible for search indexing.