How to test smoke detectors

Testing your smoke detectors on a regular basis is vital to make sure they are working properly and will protect you in case of a fire. We recommend testing them at least once a month.

Most smoke detectors have a central button somewhere on the unit, which should be quite obvious to locate. On the Verisure Monitored Smoke Detector, the button is large and in the centre of the unit.

Once you’ve found the button, press it down for 10 seconds or until you hear the siren sound. The sound should be loud, around 85dB for the Verisure smoke detector, which is about the same as being next to a food blender or heavy traffic.

You can test the sound levels precisely by using a decibel metre, but this isn’t strictly necessary as long as the noise is loud enough to be heard throughout the house.

If you have a network of connected smoke detectors like Verisure’s, testing one detector should trigger all the others in your home. Depending on the size of your home and the number of smoke detectors, you may have to work with someone else to make sure all the units are working as they should.

If no sound occurs even after pressing down on the central button for more than 20 seconds, or if a smoke detector doesn’t sound when another one in the system is triggered, you may be facing one of the following issues:

• The detector is out of battery. If the unit works with rechargeable batteries, replace them and try the same test again.
• The detector is dusty or dirty. Cobwebs, dust or even kitchen grease can lodge into the detector, getting in the way of the sensors. Give the unit a clean with a clean cloth or your vacuum cleaner, then try testing it again.

If the above doesn’t work, contact customer support, as your unit may not be working properly. Verisure smoke alarms have a lifetime warranty, and maintenance is included in the fee you pay for your system, so a professional will be dispatched promptly to help you.