As the weather turns cooler and we have to rely on our heating systems, and with the holiday season of candles burning and more cooking in the kitchen, this is a good time for an important reminder..

Routine maintenance of your smoke detector(s) (dusting or vacuuming removes dust and insures proper air movement) and battery replacement may be the most important jobs you do during the year.

Here are some ideas related to smoke detectors:

-Choose new long-life batteries (always check the expiration date).

-Change the batteries once a year on the same day every year; for example, change the batteries at the same time you set back your clocks in the spring or forward in the fall.

-Test your units at least once a month. Mark the testing day on calendar and check it off after you have tested the detectors.

-The batteries in kitchen detectors are often removed due to the "burnt toast syndrome." Remember to replace the batteries or better yet, install a new detector with a "hush button" that will silence the alarm but not render the unit ineffective like removing the batteries.

-If you have a "nuisance alarm," that is, one that goes off frequently for no apparent reason, either replace the batteries or install a new unit.

-If remodeling is in your future, then it's a good time to add AC-DC units that are interconnected -- most building codes require them in new construction.

-Make sure that you have an adequate number of smoke detectors installed. A smoke detector should be installed on every level of your home, including the basement, and outside all bedrooms.

-Smoke detectors don't last forever. Replace yours every few years.