Daylight Saving Time begins March 11

Daylight Savings Chores

Whether you live in an area that recognizes Daylight Savings Time or not, keeping up with these important chores can prevent major problems.

For those of you who do live in an area that recognizes Daylight Savings Time, remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 2:00 AM (we recommend setting your clocks forward before you go to bed).

Luckily, items like your computer and cell phone will automatically update with the time change. As for the rest of your appliances - well, it’s not so simple. As you are updating the time on your coffee maker and DVD player, here are some important chores to keep in mind:

• Change the batteries in your clocks. Don’t forget to change the backup batteries in the alarm clocks!
• Change the batteries in your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm. You can prevent tragedies simply by testing and maintaining your alarms, making sure fire extinguishers are in good working order, and practicing a fire escape plan. We recommend testing all the smoke alarms in your house monthly and changing their batteries annually.

Video courtesy of Insurance Information Institute
• Check the roof and around vents, skylights, and chimneys for leaks. Repair these as necessary.
• Clean the gutters and drain the pipes so leaves won’t clog them and be sure they drain away from the house.
• Clean the fireplace of ashes. Be sure to leave the damper open for improved ventilation if your home is not air-conditioned.
• Check the basement walls and floor for dampness. Be sure to clean the dehumidifier regularly, if you have one.
• Clean out the dryer hose to prevent lint buildup (it could cause a fire).

Daylight Savings Fun Facts

• Contrary to popular belief, DST was not invented by Benjamin Franklin, although he did propose the idea to Parisians in 1784. Eventually proposed and lobbied for by Englishman William Wilmett in 1905, it was actually the Germans and their WWI allies that begin using it first. The US was last to follow suit.
• Apparently, the correct terminology is “Daylight Saving Time”, not Daylight Savings Time, as we’ve been calling it all these years.
• Hawaii, Arizona, Puerto Rico and some other warm places don’t observe DST because, well...they’re just so darn sunny all the time!
• And, lastly, between now and when we set our clocks back in the fall, there are 5% fewer in fatal crashes involving pedestrians, so for the next 6 months, it’s supposedly 5% safer for you to cross the road.

For more fun facts about DST, check out health.usnews.com!