BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — It's National Fire Prevention Week, a chance to make sure homes are safe as the winter months approach.

What You Need To Know

  • National Fire Prevention Week is a good time to review home safety

  • Maintenance services companies urge homeowners to clean their dryer vents

  • Smoke detectors should get special attention, fire officials say

  • Most smoke detectors only have a 10-year lifespan, they say

Doing that calls for a top-to-bottom cleaning and maintenance, according to home care experts and fire officials.

At a Melbourne home, Cody Hoskins, of A-Pro Services, started by cleaning out the dryer vent after the homeowner said it was not drying efficiently.

"It can accumulate inside the hose, inside the dryer and up through the duct work," A-Pro Services owner Eric Owen said. "If there's a restriction, it could come back into the dryer. That's how it builds up, and it could catch fire."

Then Hoskins headed to the roof to take care of the outside vent.

Palm Bay Fire Rescue officials also urge homeowners not to overlook their smoke detectors.

"We've gone in and changed smoke detectors that are 20 to 30 years old," said Chris Childs of Palm Bay Fire Rescue. "People just assumed they still worked."

Most smoke detectors have a 10-year lifespan, and it’s important to check yours, even when there's no fire.

Homeowners should know how to replace the batteries and the age of the smoke detector, Childs said.