Change Your Clock & Batteries in Your Smoke Alarm

In early November, Daylight Saving Time ends and you get an extra hour in your day. Use that extra time to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

During the winter we spend more hours indoors. With longer nights and colder temperatures, we can be exposed to fire or hidden hazards in our homes. Check your alarms for the following:

• Test your smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Take the smoke alarm down from the ceiling and check the manufacture date. If it’s more than 10 years old, it’s time to replace the unit.
• Remove the battery and replace it with a new one.
• Test your carbon monoxide alarm.
• Place at least one carbon monoxide alarm on every floor of your home.

Carbon monoxide is called the “invisible killer” because it’s a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It can be given off by common consumer products such as generators, and it can also come from incorrectly vented fuel-burning appliances such as gas fireplaces, furnaces, stoves, and water heaters.