Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, November 1, and the clocks go back an hour. Most of us enjoy the extra sleep, but the date works well as a built-in reminder for a few household chores that are easy to forget. Here are five worth doing while you’re already walking around changing the time.
1. Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Fire safety officials have long recommended pairing alarm checks with the clock change, and it’s a habit that sticks because the date is so easy to remember. Press the test button on every smoke and CO alarm, and replace batteries in any that need them. Check the manufacture date printed on the back, too. Smoke alarms generally need replacing after about ten years, and CO alarms often have a shorter lifespan, so don’t assume an old unit is still doing its job just because it beeps.
2. Swap Your HVAC Filter
Heating season is underway, and your furnace is about to work harder. A clogged filter forces the system to strain, drives up energy bills, and circulates more dust. Check the filter size, pull the old one, and slide in a fresh one. If you have pets or allergies, you may want to repeat this every month or two through winter rather than waiting for spring.
3. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
Most ceiling fans have a small switch on the motor housing that changes the blade direction. In cooler months, set the fan to spin clockwise at low speed. This gently pushes warm air down from the ceiling without creating a breeze, which can make a room feel warmer and help your heating work more efficiently.
4. Check Your Emergency Kit and Flashlights
Darker evenings and winter storms are on the way, so now is a good time to see what you’d have on hand in an outage. Make sure flashlights work, swap out dead batteries, and confirm you have candles or lanterns, a battery-powered radio, and a charged backup power bank. Restock bottled water and shelf-stable snacks, and toss anything expired.
5. Clear Gutters and Check Outdoor Lighting
With the leaves down, it’s the right time for a final gutter cleaning before freezing weather arrives. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams and water damage. While you’re outside, consider the earlier sunsets: replace burned-out porch and walkway bulbs, and think about adding motion-sensor or timer-controlled lights so your entry stays safe and visible after dark. Timers will also need resetting for the time change, so tackle that now.
Make It a Routine
None of these jobs takes long, and tying them to the clock change means you’ll remember them twice a year. Set a reminder on your phone, grab a coffee, and knock them out before Sunday afternoon. Then enjoy that extra hour.
