We've all accidentally set off a smoke detector in our house..... Oh so I'm the only one who has ever burnt a pizza? I'll ever admit that there was a time when my smoke detector was acting up and I removed the battery with the promise of replacing it and forgot. Thankfully my wife only let me forget for two days but it's really not a laughing matter. At least Illinois is trying to make us more conscious of the hazards of a bad smoke detector.

If you're house was built prior to 1988, you will be required to have a 10-year, sealed battery smoke detector according to a new Illinois law. Homes that have hard wired smoke detectors won't be affected with the change.

According to WTVO, in 2018, there were more than 100 people who died in a house fire. Nearly 70% of them didn't have a working smoke detector. In fact, Rockford fire crews currently respond to 82 calls per day.

For most of us, our homes are our biggest investment and some basic maintaining is all that needs to be done to ensure you protect it. I've found setting a reminder in my phone for twice a year, helps remind me to change the batteries in smoke detectors and filters for the furnace. When it comes to fire safety, just doing the little things can make a big difference. As a new home buyer in Rockford, I'll definitely make sure to check my smoke detectors to make sure they are up to code and I hope you do as well.

 

 

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