Which of the following is a recommended practice for smoke detector maintenance?

Testing the smoke detector every week is a critical practice in maintaining effective fire safety within a building. This routine ensures that the device is functioning properly and able to detect smoke effectively in case of a fire. Weekly testing can typically be conducted by pressing the test button on the unit to verify that it sounds an alarm. Regular testing is vital because it confirms that both the battery and the circuitry of the smoke detector are in good working order, thus significantly reducing the risk of malfunction when needed most.

While other maintenance practices can also be beneficial, they are not considered best practices in the same way. For example, replacing batteries every five years may lead to the detectors becoming inoperable before a sufficient timely check is performed; similarly, cleaning the detector monthly might not be standard practice, depending on the installation environment, and installing new units every two years doesn’t guarantee effectiveness if the units are not tested regularly in between. Regular testing is the most proactive way to ensure the detectors remain functional.