How often should you test a smoke alarm?
Every six months. The only chore on this list that is about staying alive.
What it actually is, and what shifts it
Holding the test button checks the horn and the battery — it does not check the sensor. Most alarms carry a replace-by date printed on the back or inside the cover, because the sensor itself ages out. Worth looking at yours once, now that you are standing under it.
Put it on a list that reminds you
“Test the smoke alarm”, every six months. Tick it when it is done and the next date is counted from that day, not from when it was due.
Related chores
- How often should you defrost the freezer?every six months
- How often should you clean the extractor fan filter?every three months
- How often should you clean the washing machine seal?every three months
- How often should you clean the oven?every three months
Or make a cleaning schedule for your whole house — a few questions, no account.