Change More Than Just the Clocks

A few weeks ago we turned the clocks back one hour. Besides the extra hour of sleep that you hopefully were able to take advantage of, it is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Wherever you live, whether you own or rent, inspecting your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and changing the batteries twice a year is strongly encouraged. Please note that you do need both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your house.

Even if your detectors are hardwired, which means they are attached to a separate electrical source, you may want to ensure that they are working and that the battery backup has a fresh battery.

Landlords, this is a good time to check both your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your rental units. Whether you have seasonal, vacation or year round renters, its wise to take the preventive step and make sure the detectors are functioning properly.

Renters, if you rent year round, making sure your detectors work is very important. If you do not have a smoke detector call your landlord immediately. If you do have one, you may want to check it yourself or call your landlord to inspect it.
And finally, it may seem like a hassle to always be changing the batteries, or worse some people gripe about the cost of a battery. These are life saving devices. Think about what could happen if a smoke or carbon monoxide detector has no battery and there is a fire.

It is always better to be safe than sorry especially when it comes to detectors.