The start of the new year is the perfect time to double check your home's smoke alarms to be sure they're properly installed ...

It will only sound an alarm when it detects real smoke. And if that smoke is ever coming from a minor cooking mishap, the large silence button will quickly restore peace to your household.

On most, simply hold the reset button for 15 to 20 seconds to silence the noise. Q. How long does it take for a smoke detector to stop chirping? Once you replace the battery or otherwise ...