Have Your Smoke Alarms Expired?

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, you should choose a holiday- or use your birthdate- and replace the batteries in your smoke alarms every year on that date. If your alarms use 10-year lithium batteries, change them whenever they no longer pass the test. To make sure your smoke alarms are working properly, you should also test them at least once a month. Your smoke alarms have good batteries, so that means they are working properly and protecting your home and family, right? Maybe not. Have your smoke alarms expired?

If You Didn't Know That Smoke Alarms Expire, Don't Feel Bad...
Being the responsible homeowner I try to be, I recently started replacing the batteries in the smoke alarms around my house. I took down the first alarm, removed the cover and replaced the battery. I then dusted off the components. It was then that I noticed the small print beside the battery compartment I never noticed before. It reads, "WARNING- Replace Detector By the Year 2008". Whoops! Looks like that alarm is past its prime. I replaced the cover and pressed the Alarm Test button, and it still appears to be working fine.

Why Should I Replace Expired Alarms When They Still Work?
I hung the expired smoke alarm back in place, but I'm going to replace it as soon as possible. Why? Because, again, according to the U.S. Fire Administration smoke alarms should be replaced every 8 to 10 years. This includes the alarms that are hard-wired. The reason for this is, as electronic devices age, the likelihood they will malfunction increases. Smoke alarms become less effective at sensing smoke. According to the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, by the time a smoke alarm is 10 years old, it has a "30 percent chance of alarm failure".

How Do I Find Out How Old My Smoke Alarms Are?
As I said, in my First Alert brand alarm, the expiration date is located right beside the battery compartment. You may find the expiration date for your smoke alarms stamped inside too. Otherwise, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, smoke alarms have a date printed or stamped on their backs. Ten years after that date, you should replace them.

Resources
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/alarms/
http://www.kiprc.uky.edu/Fire/satips.htm
http://www.firstalert.com/faqs/smoke-alarms/it-is-recommended-that-alarms-are-replaced-after-10-years-why-does-the-national-fire-protection-association-nfpa-recommend-that-home-smoke-alarms-be-replaced-after-10-years
http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1647&itemID=39905&URL=Safety%20Information/For%20consumers/Fire%20&%20safety%20equipment/Smoke%20alarms/Smoke%20alarm%20safety%20tips
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/CSFD_Smoke_Alarms_have_Expiration_Dates_112583919.html