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What to know about smoke alarms every time clocks change
"Fall Back" Sunday, November 3, 2024
Post Date:10/21/2024
The West Chester Fire Department reminds residents to change batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in the fall and spring when clocks change for Daylight Saving Time.
Thanks to technology, most clocks – like the one on your cell phone – will change automatically. Even the iconic West Chester Township clock tower on The Square @ Union Centre automatically changes when clocks “spring forward” and “fall back” each year.
Batteries, however, will never replace themselves.
When the time changes, please take time to change batteries in these crucial home safety devices and test to make sure they’re working properly. This simple chore could save lives.
When do clocks change?
Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 3, 2024. This means clocks move backward one hour overnight. “Fall back” is when we gain one hour of extra sleep.
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 9, 2025. This means clocks move forward one hour overnight. “Spring forward” is when we lose one hour of sleep.
The change officially happens at 2:00 a.m. local time.
What smoke alarms do I need?
Not unlike a front door or a roof, smoke alarms are essential parts of the places where we live. Because smoke alarms are complex devices that come in many varieties, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed on the subject.
Never fear! Fire safety experts from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have simplified the info you most need to know. Think of smoke alarms in terms of these three key categories: Install, Test, Replace.
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old or stop responding when tested.
For extensive details, the West Chester Fire Department recommends referencing the NFPA’s comprehensive guide to buying and maintaining smoke alarms. This straightforward blog post clearly and completely covers topics such as: ionization vs photoelectric, hardwired vs battery powered, replacement instructions, laboratory certification labels, placement inside the home and more.
