We hear about it every year that sadly, families die from carbon monoxide poisoning or fires. When I bought my new 46-year old house as a “FSBO” (for sale by owner) and it been pre-inspected and I didn’t do another one on my own. Working smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector are not only standard, but required by law, so I was shocked after I had been in the home about a week to find out that not a single smoke detector was working nor, was there a CO2 detector to be found!

Today there are many wireless options. I bought a combo smoke & CO2 detector for the upstairs where four bedrooms are located and then three additional smoke detectors where I put one in the kitchen on the main level, one in the basement near the furnace room, and one in the garage. The one in the garage may seem strange to you, but approximately 6,600 garage fires happen each year due to electrical malfunction, and if you read my other post about Alexa “guard mode,” I have an Echo Dot in my garage, and therefore a smoke detector, because she listens for it when I’m away. For less than $60 for all four devices, I have a much better chance of keeping my family and belongings safe when home or away.

Recommendations:

• Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.

• Replace batteries annually to avoid the annoying beep during the middle of a peaceful glass of wine on the patio or a dinner party.

• Test detectors every month or two.

• Combo smoke & CO2 detector for sleeping quarters.

• Smoke detectors for each floor including garage (3 pack on Amazon for $26.99).

• Echo Dot ($25) or Echo Flex ($39) and use Alexa Guard Mode (free!) if you don’t have a built in home security system that detects fire.

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