Fall Back, Check Up: Your Daylight Saving Time To-Do List

Halloween is Saturday, and right after the trick-or-treaters head home, daylight saving time comes to an end. At 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, clocks "fall back" one hour to 1 a.m. That means an extra hour of sleep, brighter mornings and darker evenings.

Most phones and computers update on their own, but you'll want to reset clocks on your microwave, oven, car dashboard and any wall or bedside clocks.

While you're going room to room, use the time change as a reminder to take care of these simple safety tasks.

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Press the test button on every smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) detector in your home. If an alarm uses replaceable batteries, swap in fresh ones. Also check the date printed on the back of each alarm. Smoke alarms generally need to be replaced every 10 years, and CO detectors often have an even shorter lifespan.

Make sure you have a smoke alarm in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of your home. If you have gas appliances, a fireplace or an attached garage, you should also have CO detectors.

Look over your emergency kit

Check your 72-hour kit. Replace expired food, water and medications. Test your flashlights, swap out old batteries and update important documents and phone numbers. As winter approaches, add warm blankets, gloves and hand warmers.

Get your home ready for winter

• Change your furnace filter and schedule a furnace inspection if you haven't had one this year.
• Clean out the dryer lint trap and vent to reduce fire risk.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off outdoor water faucets to prevent frozen pipes.
• Check outdoor lights so walkways and porches stay well lit during longer nights.

Get your car ready, too

Check your tires, wipers, windshield washer fluid and car battery before the first big snow. Keep an ice scraper, blanket, phone charger and snacks in your car.

Be extra careful on the road

After the time change, the evening commute happens in the dark. Drivers should slow down and watch for people walking and biking, especially near schools, bus stops and neighborhoods. If you're walking, wear bright or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight or use your phone's light so drivers can see you.

Ease into the new schedule

The time change can throw off your sleep, even when you gain an hour. Try to stick to your normal bedtime, and get some sunlight in the morning to help your body adjust.

A few minutes this weekend can keep your family safe all winter long. Fall back, check up and enjoy that extra hour!