What Do Smoke Alarms Have To Do With The Time Change?

Daylight Saving Time comes to an end this weekend, on Sunday, November 3, when most of the United States rolls back the clock by one hour. That means a very important item just jumped to the top of your to-do list: changing the batteries in the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your house.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about two-thirds of fire deaths in the United States take place in homes without working smoke alarms. Smoke detectors are the first line of defense when a fire breaks out in your home and the most critical fire safety element you have. So when you’re out getting more coffee to help your internal clock adjust to the time change, be sure to pick up some batteries, enough for every smoke detector in your house.

What’s the Time Change Got To Do With Smoke Alarm Batteries?

While discussing this bi-annual reminder, I did wonder how the switch between daylight savings time and standard time became associated with changing the batteries in smoke detectors.

There isn’t a direct connection between the time change and fire safety. Fire safety experts recommend changing the batteries in your smoke detectors every six months, which makes the annual Spring and Fall time changes a convenient, universal reference point for doing just that.

Back in 1995, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Energizer company partnered up to create the “Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries” campaign, making it semi-official and providing a catchy slogan to drive home the importance of this simple, potentially life-saving task. It’s a brilliant social marketing campaign, one that’s had a lasting impact since rolling out some three decades ago. Now, changing your smoke detector batteries is one of those essential home maintenance tasks, right up there with cleaning your gutters or changing your furnace filter.

How do you know if your smoke detector batteries need to be replaced?

While it’s a good idea to replace the batteries every six months, it’s possible that the life of the batteries you put in your smoke alarm won’t always line up with the calendar. If your smoke detector is making a high-pitched chirping sound every few seconds, that usually means the batteries are dying. Sometimes, the chirping sound can signal that the smoke alarm must be replaced.

How to test smoke detectors

While you’re changing the batteries, it’s important to test the smoke detector and make sure it’s working. To do that, just press and hold the test button. You should hear the siren after a second or two. If it sounds weak or quiet, that usually means the batteries are dying.

How often should you replace smoke detectors?

It’s recommended that your replace smoke detectors every 10 years, regardless of the brand or whether they’re battery-powered or hardwired. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be replaced every five to 10 years, depending on when the CO2 detector expires.

What if I have a hard-wired smoke alarm?

A hardwired smoke detector is one that’s wired directly into your home’s electrical system. Connecting to the wiring in your house helps ensure that there’s an uninterrupted power supply going to your smoke alarm at all times. However, hardwired smoke detectors also have a battery backup—something that’s important should the power in your home fail, like in the case of a natural disaster—that you should change on the six-month cycle. It’s important to regularly test your hardwired smoke detectors too.

How many smoke detectors do you need?

Local building codes may stipulate exactly how many smoke alarms a building is required to have, so be sure to check those. Regardless, fire safety experts recommend at least one smoke detector for every floor of your home (including basements and attics), one for each sleeping area and any hallways that bedrooms or sleeping areas open into.