Smoke Detector Safety & Tracking Tips

 Okay. Now the next topic is going to be small detectors. Let's think about small detectors in the units. Typically nowadays there is the 10 near battery. Battery. If you have those or the hard wire, small detectors. Typically when we do that, and for example, if we were to do an inspection or you're coming in to check the small detectors the way that I've been doing it, which I hope you're still doing, or perhaps this could be a great tip for you, is that when it comes to the small detectors, we go ahead and actually we write down.

The day that it was installed. So for example, we're doing it right now. We're now, let's say for example May, 2025. Typically the ones that are 10 year warranty battery lifespan will state you will write down 10. 2025. You know that there's a record of that stating now that this small detectives was put in and installed at this time, if you're doing a work order or you're doing an inspection, it will make sense for you to take a picture of that.

So whenever you wanna go back and review or check if, when was it done? You'll have that information, try to do that in all the small detectors to go ahead and do that, because that will give you the data that was done until the 10 years that will eventually allocate, will expire. Now, at the same time, when it comes to that, one of the things that I have been implemented that perhaps you're doing or you can be implementing is depending on how many small detectors you put in a in a unit.

For example, if it's a two bedroom. We go ahead and put one in the living room. So we put one in the living room between that and the kitchen, not as close to the kitchen, but a little bit in the living room. In the middle we put down one and we call that number one. Okay. And if we have a two bedroom I.

And we have a hallway, right? So then typically the one we put in the hallway typically is a co A combo monoxide dash mold detector. That one we call it. Also, we put the back, the name, the date, when it was installed, and at the same time, we call that small detector number two. Okay. And typically what we do, if you have a two bedroom, we go, my norm has been left to right.

So then bedroom number one will be the bedroom that is on the left side. That will be the one, and that will be, for example, small detector number three. Then the one in the right, we will ahead and call it small detector number four. Okay, so you see now you're only now you have a date that was installed in Black Ink to make it obvious.

And at the same time you put a number so you'll know which one, what location, and you have to hopefully use that and have a clear understanding with all your maintenance team to know that's typically the protocol that you can use. That way whenever you have to replace one and you are confused, you have a better understanding.

Which one needs to be replaced. So if it's small detector number three, you'll know that it is on bedroom number one, and on the left side do that. So it is vice versa. It could be number two as well. Now, if you have, only, if you have three bedrooms, so obviously four it will be a total, and then the extra bedroom will be number five.

Between that having a specific number for that you'll be able to understand it better where the location is, and also having the date when you install it also gives you a clear understanding when will they expire? Do that and always keep track in an Excel sheet or your software that you have, because you're always gonna have to check.

But one of the obligations is to make sure that we have record keeping reflecting that we put the small detectors. So having all of that and putting all the records of one that we're replaced and when we're not, gives you a better understanding of what you have done. So small detective, remember, can save lives.

So doing things this as a safety and a precaution in the long run will not only give you the peace of mind and also make sure that this can save the life of someone. And to do that, I. Another thing that we do, if, unfortunately a tenant removes it because that's an ongoing situation is that we make 'em aware of that and we always send messages through our property management software as a reminder every three months to all the tenants about the importance of having small detectors and not to remove it.

And if they do or something's wrong with the small detector to go ahead and contact us so we can take care of that. Now, there's times when those may be I. Ne removed by the tenant and maybe the batteries will not work. So in that case, on those cases, typically what we do is that unfortunately we charge the tenant for that expense because those small detectors can get expensive nowadays.

So we need to make sure that things are done in our behalf, but also that the tenant is to their responsibly, not to remove them because ultimately their safety is at stake. So I hope this information helps you. I hope that you do that with the small detectors or you have a system already in place that is helping you keep track and that I encourage you to use pictures, have the work orders, also be put in there if you have property management software, and make sure that you have that record keeping safety as our number one priority, and it is everybody's responsibility, but has small detectors has maintenance.

Technicians, small detectors are the key to saving the people's lives. So remember, take that seriously. Take pride in what you do and continue to do the work you do. Take care.