However, one expert has issued an urgent warning urging homeowners to vacuum a little known area of their home instantly.

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Expert at Wickes, Chris Moorhouse, warns smoke alarms should be hoovered once every six months in order to prevent a build up of dust – and save lives. 

He says: “It’s recommended that you vacuum your smoke alarm every six months to remove any build-up of dust.

“You can do this using the soft brush attachment. Simply run it along the sides and face of the device.” 

If you do have to detach your smoke alarm in order to clean it then Chris recommends looking at the expiry date while you have hold of it.

He adds: “Some people are dangerously unaware that fire detectors have expiry dates. Much like other household items, fire alarm functionality may degrade over time. 

“For this reason, British Standard guidelines recommend that all fire alarms should be replaced after a maximum of ten years. 

“Bear in mind different manufacturers provide different warranties so please refer to the datasheet or manufacturer website. 

“If your alarm doesn’t show a replacement date on a label, it may not meet all of the essential safety requirements and we would recommend you replace it as soon as possible.”