Daylight Saving Time Reminder: Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries This Sunday, March 8
With Daylight Saving Time returning this Sunday, March 8, it’s time to do more than just set your clocks forward — it’s also the perfect moment to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, clocks spring forward one hour across most of the United States. Fire safety experts and local emergency services have long recommended using this twice-yearly clock change as a reminder to test and replace smoke alarm batteries.
Why It Matters
Working smoke alarms save lives. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), having working smoke alarms cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half. Despite this, three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms — or with alarms that have dead or missing batteries.
What To Do This Weekend
- Replace batteries in all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home
- Test every alarm by pressing the test button and listening for the alert tone
- Check the age of your alarms — smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years
- Install alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside all sleeping areas
Most smoke alarms run on standard 9-volt or AA batteries. If your alarm has a sealed, long-life battery, check the manufacturer’s recommendations for replacement intervals.
Don’t Forget to Spring Forward
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 a.m. Move your clocks forward one hour before bed Saturday night — and take a few extra minutes to make sure your home’s smoke and CO detectors are ready to protect your family all season long.