Safety
Safety systems do one thing: buy time. Smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguishers, and radon testing don't prevent hazards from forming, but they give people in the home a chance to respond before a situation becomes unrecoverable. That window closes fast when equipment is ignored.
Most of what these systems need is periodic testing, battery replacement, and unit replacement on schedule. None of it is difficult. What makes it matter is consistency: a detector with a dead battery or an extinguisher past its service date is equipment that looks ready but isn't.
Components
Safety Tasks
| Component | Task | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| CO Detector | Press test button on CO detectors | Monthly |
| Replace CO detector batteries | Once a year, in fall | |
| Replace CO detector units | Every 5 years | |
| Fire Extinguisher | Service fire extinguisher | Once a year |
| Smoke Detector | Press test button on smoke detectors | Monthly |
| Replace smoke detector batteries | Once a year, in fall | |
| Replace smoke detector units | Every 10 years | |
| General | Radon test | Every 2 years |
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