Most safety guidelines suggest testing smoke or fire alarms once a month using the built-in test button, and changing batteries at least once a year if they’re battery-operated. It sounds excessive until you remember these small devices might be the only early warning you get in a real emergency.
Testing is simple: press and hold the test button until you hear a loud beep or series of beeps. If the sound is weak or doesn’t come at all, change the battery or replace the unit if it’s old. Also keep an eye on expiry dates; many detectors are designed to be replaced after 8–10 years.
To make it easier, link the test to a regular event – the first weekend of every month, or the same day you pay certain bills. The whole process takes a couple of minutes, tops. For such a small effort, the peace of mind is huge. It’s one of those quiet habits that feels unimportant… until the day it matters.