Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, and clocks go back one hour. While you are resetting the oven and the car clock, take ten minutes to check your smoke alarms. It is one of the easiest home tasks of the year, and the extra hour helps.
How do I check my smoke alarms?
The U.S. Fire Administration recommends a few simple habits:
- Test every alarm monthly. Press the test button and listen for the beep.
- Replace 9-volt batteries at least once a year. Fall back Sunday is an easy day to remember.
- Hardwired alarms still have a backup battery. Replace it at least once a year.
- Long-life lithium alarms have batteries you cannot replace. When they wear out, replace the whole alarm, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
How old are my smoke alarms?
Take one down and look at the back for the manufacture date. The USFA says smoke alarms need to be replaced 10 years from the manufacture date. Replace the whole alarm, not just the battery. This matters for older Bastrop homes and for homes bought from a previous owner, where you may not know when the alarms went in.
Where should smoke alarms go?
Put them inside and outside each bedroom or sleeping area and on every level of the home. Mount them on the ceiling or high on the wall, and check the manufacturer’s instructions. Only a qualified electrician should install hardwired alarms.
The USFA also suggests interconnected alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound. That is helpful in a larger home or a house with bedrooms on both ends.
What if my alarm goes off when I cook?
Do not pull the battery. Open a window or door, press the hush button, or move the alarm a bit farther from the kitchen. Once an alarm sounds in a real fire, the USFA says you may have less than two minutes to get everyone outside.
Buying or selling this season?
A working set of smoke alarms is a small detail buyers and inspectors notice. If you are getting ready to list, see our Sell Your Home page. New to town? Our Moving to Bastrop guide covers utilities and more.
Frequently asked questions
- When does daylight saving time end in 2026?
- Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, when clocks are set back one hour.
- How often should you test smoke alarms?
- The U.S. Fire Administration says to test smoke alarms monthly.
- How often should smoke alarms be replaced?
- Smoke alarms need to be replaced 10 years from the manufacture date, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Replace the whole alarm, not just the battery.
- Where should smoke alarms go in a house?
- Install them inside and outside each bedroom or sleeping area and on every level of the home, on the ceiling or high on the wall, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Sources
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