To make sure that you are safe in your home, your property may have been fitted with smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. Where fitted, you are responsible for understanding how your detectors work and for maintaining them.
We test and inspect both detectors in your home every year as part of our annual central heating servicing programme.
Contact us if:
- A smoke detector and or carbon monoxide detectors appears to be faulty - so we can promptly arrange for it to be repaired or replaced.
- Your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have not been tested within the last 12 months - please contact our gas Service and Maintenance contractor
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have been installed in all council properties in the interests of safety of tenants. The council cannot in any circumstances be held responsible if the detectors fail to activate.
Do not relocate or paint a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detectors.
What do smoke and heat detectors do?
Smoke and heat detectors will sound if they detect smoke or heat above a certain temperature, warning you that there may be a fire in your home. They are installed on the ceiling of your property. Smoke detectors are located in the hallway and the heat detectors are located in the kitchen. The manufacturers advise that these alarms should be tested weekly by pressing and holding the test button until the alarm sounds.
Smoke detectors can:
- Sense smoke
- Sense invisible, odourless fumes from fire
- Raise the alarm
- Provide early warning of developing fires so allowing precious minutes for you to escape
Battery-powered smoke detectors cannot:
- Work without a battery
- Detect heat - only smoke
- Work satisfactorily unless correctly positioned so you should NOT relocate detectors from their present position
- Tell the difference between smoke, steam and some kinds of cooking.
Carbon monoxide detectors
Carbon Monoxide, also known as CO2, is highly poisonous and can be produced if your gas appliance is faulty. You cannot see it, taste it or smell it - but the effects can be deadly.
The detector will detect carbon monoxide gas and prevents stop Carbon Monoxide poisoning. It is essential you get your heating and hot water appliances, gas and solid fuel appliance, inspected every 12 months.
The detector should be installed in every room which is used as a living accommodation containing a fixed gas appliance (excluding gas cookers). The manufacturers advise the detectors should be tested weekly by pressing and holding the test button until the alarm sounds.
False alarms
If you get a false alarm due to steam or cooking, do not remove the battery - you might forget to put it back!
If any of the detectors bleeps regularly, please contact the repairs team. We will investigate, replace the alarm if it is faulty.
Testing your detector
You must test your detector every week by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds.
If the alarm sounds, the detector is working correctly. If the alarm does not sound or bleeps regularly each minute, the battery must be replaced urgently.
Please contact the repairs team immediately.