{"id":7012,"date":"2016-03-10T13:56:46","date_gmt":"2016-03-10T18:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/?p=7012"},"modified":"2016-03-11T08:53:19","modified_gmt":"2016-03-11T13:53:19","slug":"important-daylight-savings-time-battery-reminder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.diycontrols.com\/index.php\/important-daylight-savings-time-battery-reminder\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoke Alarms, Batteries & Daylight Savings Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year, Daylight Saving Time (DST) will officially begin on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 2:00 a.m. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0That’s when Americans* move their clocks ahead by one hour and enjoy one more hour of daylight in the evening. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0The beginning (and end) of DST also serves as a reminder to us to change the batteries in our smoke detectors, thanks to the Energizer Battery Company’s very successful \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0“Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign introduced 28 years ago. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0No one can argue that this is sage advice, but do you wonder if it’s really necessary to change the batteries in your smoke alarms that often? \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0And what if your smoke detectors are hard wired? \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Here are the answers to those questions and some important information on smoke alarm batteries.\"smoke<\/a><\/p>\n

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How “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” Began<\/em><\/h2>\n

Prior to 1987, a disturbing trend was emerging \u00c3\u00a2\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\u00e2\u20ac\u0153 many people were dying in home fires, even though they had installed smoke alarms.<\/strong> \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0The problem was that the batteries powering the alarms were often neglected. The Energizer Battery Company believed the problem was not being addressed on a national scale, so they formed an alliance with the International Association of Fire Chiefs and created the very successful “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” program<\/a><\/strong>. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Still in use today, the program\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>reminds us to\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0change our smoke detector batteries twice a year when DST starts in mid-March and again in early November\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0when we return to\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Standard Time.<\/p>\n

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Is It Necessary to Change Smoke Alarm Batteries Twice a Year?<\/em><\/h2>\n

YES! \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0And here’s why: \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly.<\/p>\n

Estimated battery life in a smoke alarm can vary greatly based on battery type<\/a><\/strong> and brand, the environment where the alarm is installed and alarm usage. A battery-powered free-standing smoke detector that has gone off a couple of times in a year will experience significantly shortened battery life, as will the backup battery in a hard-wired smoke alarm that is drained every time there is a power outage. \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 There’s really no good way to know how much battery life is left.<\/p>\n

So protect your family and home, it is your responsibility to make sure that your smoke alarms are working properly and the batteries are fresh.<\/p>\n

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Smoke Alarm Battery Guidelines<\/em><\/h2>\n

\"Gentex<\/a>Here is what the National Fire Protection Association<\/a><\/strong> (NFPA) recommends:<\/p>\n