Don’t Let Your Smoke Alarm Ring in the New Year!

One lesser-known mandatory element of any home sale is having smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors fully compliant with local codes. We’ve included the link to the Oregon Fire Marshal page on smoke alarm and CO detector requirements below. To summarize: smoke detectors are to be installed on each level of the house and in every sleeping room. Carbon monoxide detectors are to be installed on each level of a home that contains a bedroom, either within each bedroom or within 15 feet outside every bedroom door.

A home inspector will “call out” – e.g., identify the need for updating and correction – a smoke alarm or CO detector older than 10 years. If your alarms are older than that recommendation, it is something to be cognizant of should you want your alarms to remain compatible with current codes.

An additional recommendation is to pursue the installation of 10 year lithium batteries within your alarms. At this point they are very affordable – under $10 – and their longevity negates the need to deal with frequently beeping smoke alarms!

See HERE for the aforementioned link to the fire marshal page, and we hope you have a happy New Year!