To kick off Daylight Saving Time, clocks “spring forward” at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Before going to bed Saturday night, change the clocks throughout your home to reflect the time change. The Ottumwa Fire Department reminds everyone that this is also a perfect time to change the batteries in your home’s smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
To stay safe, replacing batteries in all smoke alarms should be done at least once a year, but changing them while changing all your clocks serves as a great reminder. Smoke alarms should be tested once a month. If an alarm “chirps”, indicating the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
Some smoke alarms may be equipped with a 10-year lithium battery. If you have one of these, it is important to still test it. This is also a good time to practice your home fire evacuation plan, too.
Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years and there should be a date of manufacture located on the device. If you are an Ottumwa resident and need your smoke alarms replaced, installed, or if you have questions about smoke alarms contact the Ottumwa Fire Department at 641-683-0666 extension #4.
The Ottumwa Fire Department reminds you that fire is everyone’s fight and make every day a fire safe day.
