Friends,

  This weekend marks the start of daylight savings time. Please remember to replace the batteries in all of your smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors. As you do , check the date of installation.   If you are unsure of the date, consider replacing them all. Most brands recommend replacement after 10 years of service.

 If you decide to replace your units, consider replacing them with the interconnected type, if they are not already. This type of detector will alarm ALL of the units simultaneously. This makes alarm coverage the same for each location. Detectors need to be installed in each bedroom, usually in a couple of common areas, the hallway outside of the bedrooms, and I encourage one in the garage. It's true that if you allow your vehicle to idle inside the garage, you will get some false alarms, but an attached garage is one of the most likely places in which a fire could start. The interconnected detectors would alert the occupants much earlier, with a unit installed inside...