Asst. Fire Chief Hobson recommends updating smoke detectors every 10 years

ZANESVILLE, Ohio-This week is fire prevention week.

And in honor of that, the Zanesville Fire Department wants you to check the date on all of your smoke alarms.

“Some examples of what to look for: a smoke detector that’s yellowed, has dry wall mud on it or even smoke detectors that are painted. Smoke detectors should never be painted, because of the paint can get inside of that and starts to effect them,” Assistant Fire Chief Doug Hobson said.

The general rule of thumb is to change the battery in your smoke detector, twice a year during daylight savings, once in the fall and once in the spring. It is recommended to replace smoke alarms every 10 years.

“When you do change your battery we ask that you take your vacuum cleaner with the dust bristles on it and lightly go over your smoke detector. The inside of the smoke detector is all electronics, we like to pull that dust away from it and make sure they work,” Hobson said.

For more information about fire prevention week. visit, firepreventionweek.org.