Replace smoke alarm batteries and sleep better!
March 8, 2020 is the official start of daylight saving time and November 1, 2020 is the official end. Most of the state of Arizona doesn’t observe daylight saving time, but parts of it do. The Navajo Nation does follow the daylight savings time schedule; part of the Hopi Nation in Arizona doesn’t observe daylight saving time and part of it does.
But, the best part of daylight savings to me is that twice-a-year reminder to replace your smoke alarm batteries. Smoke alarm rules and regulations vary from state to state and sometimes from county to county or town to town. But several smoke alarm manufacturers recommend replacement of the battery in their smoke alarms once a year and others recommend twice a year. If your smoke alarms are powered only with a battery you should replace the batteries every six months or more often, if the manufacturer recommends it. If your smoke alarms are powered via the home electrical wiring, replace the smoke alarm battery at least once per year. So although in most of Arizona we don’t change our clocks twice a year we should take a few minutes twice a year to walk through our home and look at our smoke alarms. See if the indicator light on them is lit or flashing normally, take a soft cloth, brush or broom and wipe the surface of the smoke alarm to knock any spider webs or dust build-up off and replace that battery! Put a reminder in your calendar now!