Home Safety

Are the Smoke Alarms in Your Sioux Falls Home Older Than You Think?

A realistic horizontal photo of a Sioux Falls firefighter carefully installing a clean white smoke alarm on a residential hallway ceiling while the homeowner watches. Warm natural interior light, ordinary home, no readable uniforms, badges, logos, or text.

A smoke alarm can look perfectly clean and still be past its recommended service life. For buyers and homeowners, pressing the test button is important, but the manufacturing date also deserves attention.

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends replacing an entire smoke alarm 10 years after its manufacture date. It also recommends placing alarms inside and outside sleeping areas and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Check the date, not only the battery

Many alarms have a manufacture date printed on the back or side, which may require gently removing the unit from its mounting plate. A hardwired alarm still ages and generally includes a backup battery that must be maintained.

Test alarms monthly according to the manufacturer's directions. For units using replaceable batteries, follow the manufacturer's battery schedule. If an alarm is damaged, repeatedly chirps after proper maintenance, fails a test, or is beyond its recommended life, replace it.

What buyers can check during a walkthrough

Count the alarms and note their locations. Look for coverage inside and outside bedrooms, on each level, and in the basement. Ask whether hardwired alarms are interconnected so that one alarm sounding can alert occupants throughout the home.

A standard home inspection may comment on visible alarm placement or operation, but buyers should confirm the inspector's exact scope. An alarm appearing in a listing photo does not establish its age, condition, or compliance with current guidance.

Sioux Falls residents can request help

The Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Smoke Alarm Program provides smoke alarms and installation at no charge through a partnership with the American Red Cross. Residents within Sioux Falls city limits can call 211 to request a smoke-alarm check or installation.

The program is available citywide, with priority given to residents who may not otherwise be able to afford alarms or install them. After the 211 intake, a Sioux Falls Fire Rescue inspector contacts the resident to coordinate the visit.

Make the check part of moving in

Before the first night in a new home, locate and test every alarm, record the manufacture dates, replace outdated units, and make sure everyone recognizes the sound and knows the exit plan. Keep the manufacturer's instructions because placement and maintenance requirements can vary by model.

This is a small task compared with the rest of a move, but it protects the people and property inside the home from the first day forward.

The Bottom Line

Do not assume a smoke alarm is ready simply because it is attached to the ceiling. Check its location, test it, and verify its age. Sioux Falls residents who need assistance can call 211 about the City's free smoke-alarm program. For help preparing for your Sioux Falls move, contact timrealtor.com/contact-us.