When Do We “Fall Back” In 2021?
The first Sunday in November is when Daylight Saving Time ends in most areas of the U.S. We will “fall back” one hour and return to Standard Time on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at 2 a.m. So be sure to set your clocks back one hour before bed Saturday night. While setting back your clocks, it is a good time to check out your smoke detectors!
Smoke detectors are one of the most important safety devices you can install in your home. It’s absolutely vital to test them regularly to ensure that they will work during a fire and replacing smoke detector batteries is critical to their usefulness and to keep your home and your family safe.
When selecting a smoke detector, keep the following in mind:
- Photoelectric units are better for smoldering fires—such as electrical fires in the walls—so they’re ideal for kitchens and bathrooms where these fires tend to occur.
- Ionization units give the surrounding air an electrical charge and then measure whether the charge remains constant or if a fire consumes the oxygen in the air. These units are better suited to areas where fires get out of control, such as a basement or near a furnace.
Use this guide to ensure that your smoke detectors are working properly:
- Press the test button on the unit and wait for it to sound.
- Light a candle and hold it 6 inches below, so the heated air will rise into the detector.
- If the alarm doesn’t sound within 20 seconds, blow the candle and let the smoke rise.
- If the alarm still doesn’t sound, open the detector and clean the unit. Then, test the unit again.
- If the detector still isn’t working, it should be replaced immediately.