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“How was your day?”

“Oh, same old, same old.”

This common exchange between friends and family members is the reason National Old Stuff Day was created. Observed each year on March 2, Old Stuff Day is the perfect time to break out of your normal routine and do something new instead of the same old stuff.

This is the perfect day to not only try something daring like a new sport or musical instrument, but to complete the items on your do to list you’ve been putting off – like checking your safety equipment! Take a little time out of this unordinary day to make sure your family is safe against fire, carbon monoxide and other dangers.

Check Your Smoke Detector

If a fire ever starts in your home, this safety device will alert you. Of course, this is only true if the batteries are good and the smoke detector is functional. To ensure this, test your home’s smoke detectors once a month.

• Visually inspect the smoke detector. If dust is blocking the grate, vacuum it clean to make sure the unit is capable of detecting smoke.
• Tell your family you’re about to test the smoke detectors. Ask one person to go to a far corner of the house and see if they can hear the alarm you’re about to test.
• Press and hold the test button located on the front of the smoke detector. Loud beeping indicates the device is working properly.
• If the smoke detector makes a weak sound or no noise at all, replace the batteries and test the unit again. If the detector still doesn’t function well, replace it as soon as possible.

Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detector

If your home has any natural gas, oil or propane-fired appliances, you should have a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home. Check these units once a month, back-to-back with testing your smoke detectors.

• Warn your family so they’re not startled by the loud beeping that occurs while testing a carbon monoxide detector.
• Press and hold the test button on the front of the carbon monoxide detector. Loud beeping tells you the device is working.
• Change the batteries if the carbon monoxide detector doesn’t beep when you test it. Press the test button again and if it still doesn’t work, replace the device as soon as possible.

Check Your Fire Extinguishers

The kitchen is the most important place to keep a fire extinguisher in your home. Glance over it once a month, including on National Old Stuff Day, to make sure it will function properly if you ever need it.

• Make sure the fire extinguisher is located in an easy-to-reach place.
• Check the tamper and safety seals to make sure they’re intact.
• Look at the pressure gauge needle and make sure it’s pointing to the green, which indicates the fire extinguisher is full.
• Check for corrosion, leakage or a clogged nozzle that could prevent the fire extinguisher from working properly.
• Document your inspection on the tag to help you keep track of the fire extinguisher’s maintenance history.

If you haven’t been in the habit of performing these safety checks monthly, National Old Stuff Day is the perfect time to make this change. Set reminders on your phone to check these safety devices at the beginning of every month. If an emergency ever strikes your home, you’ll be so glad you were prepared!

For more home safety tips or ways to make National Old Stuff Day stand out, please contact Mr. Electric®.