Since we do not want to repeat what everyone already knows, here is a very important additonal reason to change the batteries on your smoke detectors now. Based on reported fires with malfunctioning detectors, close to 30% of fire detectors have either no batteries or dead batteries. Smoke detectors are legally required almost everywhere now as their life-saving statistics are unassailable when they have been properly maintained. In addition to replacing batteries and testing the units at regular intervals, you should replace any units that are more than 10 years old. Each unit is required to indicate the month and year of production for easy reference.
