And difficulties involved in reaching the detector make it easy to put off testing. So, more than 16 million homes are at risk with smoke detectors that don't work, according to a recent U.S. government study, and yours could be one if you don't periodically test your detector. No, the test button simply tells you whether or not there is power in the detector, and that the alarm circuit is functioning. It can't indicate whether the detector will sound the alarm in the event of a fire. This is because the sensing chamber is not being tested.
Smoke harms the smoke detector.
Smoke of any kind is toxic, and will hurt you or others in the vicinity. Periodic testing is easy and convenient with non-toxic Smoke Detector Tester . Simply spray the detector from a distance of 2 to 4 feet. No need to risk life and limb standing on a chair or ladder attempting to reach a test button that won't tell you what you need to know anyway. Smoke Detector Tester puts the smoke detector through its paces.