Every homeowner knows that smoke detectors are crucial, but do we really utilize them to the fullest degree? And do we pay enough attention to the ones in vacation rental homes?
The National Fire Protection Association estimates that 890 lives could be saved each year if all homes had working smoke alarms. This number is drastically lower than the number of deaths caused by home fires before smoke alarms were required in every home, but it is still too high considering the advanced technology we have to prevent fire deaths today!
Keep reading to learn some basic tips about smoke alarm usage and routines to keep your vacation rental home safe for years to come.
PLACE SMOKE DETECTORS STRATEGICALLY IN VACATION RENTAL HOMES
Unsurprisingly, most deadly house fires occur when everyone is asleep. If the residents of your vacation rental home sleep behind closed doors, it is important to install a separate smoke alarm in every bedroom.
This ensures that no one sleeps through the sound of more distant alarms or the smell of smoke. If anyone in your vacation rental home is hard of hearing, you should install alarms that also flash bright lights so they can be alerted visually.
To avoid nuisance alarms from normal smoke and steam, don’t install the detector in close proximity to your stove or your bathroom. At the same time, avoid placing them by windows, doors, and air ducts, which can keep them too ventilated and interfere with their operation
Depending on how much control you have over the installation process, opt for interconnected fire alarms that trigger the entire network to go off when one sensor is triggered. This will further increase fire safety in your vacation rental home.
MAINTAIN SMOKE ALARMS IN YOUR VACATION RENTAL HOME
If we said that checking smoke detectors was easy to remember in our busy day-to-day lives, we’d be lying. That’s why it’s best to make it easy for yourself and set a reminder on your mobile device reminding you to test your vacation rental home’s alarm system ideally once a month to make sure everything is in working order.
Batteries in smoke detectors for your vacation rental home need to be changed once per year. This not only ensures that the alarm always has battery power, but it will prevent the dreaded “chirping” noise that comes when smoke detectors have dying batteries.
Every 10 years, the smoke alarms themselves should be replaced in your vacation rental home. An easy way to keep track of this is to keep a sticker on the back of the battery cover with the replacement date written on it. This way, you’re reminded regularly of when you’ll need to replace your smoke detectors.
MAKE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN FOR YOUR VACATION RENTAL HOME
Have you created a fire escape plan for your vacation rental home? Don’t feel bad if you haven’t – only 26% of families have, according to the American Red Cross.
Regardless, this is an important tip to take from home fire prevention experts. All a smoke detector does is alert occupants to the presence of a fire.
From there, it is up to the people inside to get out of the home safely. Panic can seriously impede safety measures and waste precious minutes in an emergency. Therefore, it is imperative for your vacation rental residents to have a plan in place and know exactly what to do in the event of a fire.
POSSIBLE SAVINGS ON VACATION RENTAL HOME INSURANCE
Some types of smoke detectors can reduce your insurance premium cost for your vacation rental home. This mostly applies to central monitoring systems that connect to emergency services and alert the authorities when the system is triggered.
These are particularly useful for vacation rental home owners who are not on the property full-time or travel a lot, but they are a great safety option for anyone to have. However, these systems cost more than the average smoke detector. Ask your independent agent if a home insurance discount could help offset the cost of a central monitoring system for your vacation rental home!