Spring Forward and Change Your Smoke Alarm Batteries

By Atascadero News · Sat Mar 07 2020

As Californians prepare to "spring forward" and adjust their clocks one hour ahead for Daylight Savings Time, Cal Fire issued a reminder that it's also time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.

Cal Fire offered the following tips for smoke alarm safety:

• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, in the hallways leading to bedrooms and on each level of your home including the basement.
• Do not install near windows or vents.
• Smoke alarms with non-replaceable (long-life) batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
• For smoke alarms with any other type of battery, replace batteries at least once per year. If the alarm chirps, replace only the battery.
• Test your smoke alarm every month by simply holding down the test button.
• Never paint over smoke alarms and routinely clean them from dust and cobwebs.