A smoke detector should be placed higher in the bedroom such as on the ceiling or a wall. This provides complete access to the room and allows the smoke alarm to work as designed. The rule of thumb is for smoke detector to be within 12 inches of the ceiling.

If your alarm is hardwired into your home’s electrical system, replace the backup battery at least every 6 months and replace the smoke alarm itself once every 10 years. You’ll likely notice a high-pitched chirping noise coming from your fire alarm if the batteries need to be replaced.