Househand

How often should you test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?

Every month.

How to do it

Press and hold the test button on every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm until it sounds. Vacuum dust out of the vents while you are there.

Why it matters

A dead alarm looks exactly like a working one. The test button is the only way to know.

Recommended interval: every month, per U.S. Fire Administration.

General guidance for a typical home; the manufacturer's instructions come first.

Track “Test smoke and CO alarms” free See the full checklist

Get reminded when it is due

Paper works until it goes on the fridge and stays there. The Househand app keeps the same checklist and tells you when each job comes due, based on when you last did it.

  • A reminder when a job is due, not on a fixed date
  • A history of what you did and when
  • The same schedule as this site, optional tasks and all

The app is not in the stores yet. Until it is, track your house in the browser: same schedule, same rules.

Coming soonApp StoreComing soonGoogle Play

More safety tasks