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About your smoke detector

All our detectors are run on mains electricity. Some will have a battery back-up so they work if there is a power cut. Never open the detector or remove the battery.

General advice and resetting

A detector may go off by mistake if:

• a heater or drier is too near it;
• an aerosol spray is used near it;
• someone smokes a cigarette or pipe near it;
• there are a lot of cooking fumes or steam, eg burnt toast; or
• there are strong draughts nearby.

To reset a BRK alarm if it goes off by mistake, switch off all lighting circuits at the consumer unit. Leave for at least five minutes before switching the lighting circuits back on.

To reset an AICO alarm, press the corner marked HUSH. This will silence the alarm for 10 minutes but it will beep every 40 seconds. If the problem hasn't cleared after 10 minutes, the alarm will continue.

Testing and cleaning

Test it regularly (once a week)

• Press and hold the button for a few seconds. The alarm should sound.
• If the alarm does not sound, try cleaning it (see below) and test again.
• If the alarm still does not sound when tested after cleaning, call us immediately.

Clean and dust it regularly

• Remove dust or cobwebs using a vacuum cleaner. Place the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner against the vents on the bottom of the smoke detector.
• Clean the outside. Wipe the vents with a moist cloth.

Do not paint your smoke detector.

If the alarm goes off

• Take your family to where it is easy to escape in case there is a fire.
• Check all rooms for signs of smoke. Feel around each door before opening it. If there is any sign of heat, smoke or noise, don't open the door.

If a fire has broken out, do not try to tackle it yourself. Smoke and fumes can kill in minutes.

• Get everyone out of the house.
• Call the fire service.
• Close all doors to stop the fire and smoke spreading.
• Don't go back for any reason.

If there is no sign of smoke or fire, something may have caused the alarm to go off by mistake. See General advice above. Or, the battery may need replacing. Call us.