The time is nearly here for daylight saving time to end and clocks to be wound back an hour. You’ll probably want to do that before you go to bed, Nov. 5. It’s also a good time to check your home’s smoke alarms — it’s the best way of notifying you and your family of a fire.
Battery-operated smoke alarms are required to be replaced every 10 years from the date of manufacture to comply with a 2013 state law. The devices should also be tested at least once a month.
The state law calls for older smoke alarms to be replaced with new, sealed, long-life battery-powered smoke alarms by no later than Jan. 1, 2018, or when there is a change of tenant, test failure or a building permit is issued.
Hardwired 120-volt electric smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years with new 120-volt smoke alarms with battery backup to ensure proper and timely operation in a fire. Homeowners with hardwired smoke alarms should not replace their devices with battery-powered alarms.
The fire code-compliant smoke alarms can be purchased at most home improvement stores.
For more information on smoke alarms, where and when they are required, and general fire safety tips for homes, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/firesafety or email Timothy Diehl, city fire marshal, at tdiehl@rockvillemd.gov.