October 2006
Turn back your clocks
Our to-do list will save you time at the end of daylight saving time.
Halloween's upon us, and that means more than last-minute dashes to the local party store and supermarket to pick up a costume
and treats for neighborhood kids. The holiday also signals the end of daylight saving time (DST), when you set back your clocks.
This year, DST will end as usual at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of the month (Oct. 29), when you should turn back the clocks
1 hour. (For more information on DST and the forthcoming change on when it starts and ends, see Daylight saving time gets a new start, below.)
When you're resetting your watches and clocks (don't forget the one in your car), use this annual event as a reminder to perform the tasks outlined below. They'll enhance safety for you and your family year-round and save you some money on your utility bills, too.
Replace batteries in all smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. Always use fresh batteries, not those you "borrow" from other equipment. And follow manufacturer's instructions to ensure that these essential devices are working properly. Also, replace any smoke alarm that's 10 or more years old and any CO alarm 5 or more years old with a new model. You'll find the manufacture date on the alarm. See our report on carbon-monoxide alarms and our exclusive interactive on smoke alarms for more information. (The CO report and Ratings are available to subscribers).
Reset clocks on appliances and electronics. Some newer appliances and electronics are equipped with a microchip that automatically resets clock displays at the beginning and end of DST; check the owner's manual to determine which of yours do. You'll need to reset those that don't have a chip. To facilitate the process, make a list of all devices that you need to reset manually: clocks, TVs, DVDs players/VCRs, fax machines, cameras, and thermostats. (It's especially important to reprogram your thermostat so that the heat in your home doesn't switch on earlier than you intend.) Reset everything on the list in one session so that no appliance or electronic is forgotten.
Note: While you don't need to reprogram electronics and appliances with automatic DST update on Oct. 29, you might need to do so next spring when DST starts earlier. Devices not connected to a network will reset according to the old DST schedule, and will need to be reset manually.
Drive safely. As it gets darker earlier, be extra alert for children and animals.
Inspect vehicle lights. Inspect the entire lighting system in your car to ensure that all lights are working properly. Clean headlights and make sure they are correctly aligned according to the owner's manual.
Update your family disaster plan. To respond properly to a natural disaster or other cataclysmic event, you need to have a plan in place and the necessary supplies on hand, and be prepared to act. See our free emergency guide to preparing for any storm or disaster.
Plan accordingly when traveling. Some areas of the United States and some of its territories do not observe DST, including Hawaii, most of Arizona, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. And in Europe, DST runs from the last Sunday in March through the last Sunday in October.
Check storage areas for hazardous materials. Properly dispose of any materials that are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Make sure those you keep are out of the reach of kids or pets.
Program thermostats for savings. Shave up to 20 percent off your heating costs by lowering your home thermostat 5° F at night and 10° F during the day if no one is home. Most electronic setback thermostats let you program different schedules for each day. Many automatically switch from heating to cooling, and some tell you when it's time to change your furnace or air-conditioner filters.
You can also lop 50 percent off your utility bill by replacing the bulbs in just 25 percent of your most frequently used fixtures with compact fluorescents (CFLs). Some CFLs offer softer color and ballasts designed to eliminate humming. Also consider replacing torchère lamps with halogen bulbs--they use 60 to 80 percent more energy than fixtures fitted with CFLs. Also, install motion or light sensors on outdoor lighting so that fixtures turn on only when needed.
When you're resetting your watches and clocks (don't forget the one in your car), use this annual event as a reminder to perform the tasks outlined below. They'll enhance safety for you and your family year-round and save you some money on your utility bills, too.
Replace batteries in all smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. Always use fresh batteries, not those you "borrow" from other equipment. And follow manufacturer's instructions to ensure that these essential devices are working properly. Also, replace any smoke alarm that's 10 or more years old and any CO alarm 5 or more years old with a new model. You'll find the manufacture date on the alarm. See our report on carbon-monoxide alarms and our exclusive interactive on smoke alarms for more information. (The CO report and Ratings are available to subscribers).
Reset clocks on appliances and electronics. Some newer appliances and electronics are equipped with a microchip that automatically resets clock displays at the beginning and end of DST; check the owner's manual to determine which of yours do. You'll need to reset those that don't have a chip. To facilitate the process, make a list of all devices that you need to reset manually: clocks, TVs, DVDs players/VCRs, fax machines, cameras, and thermostats. (It's especially important to reprogram your thermostat so that the heat in your home doesn't switch on earlier than you intend.) Reset everything on the list in one session so that no appliance or electronic is forgotten.
Note: While you don't need to reprogram electronics and appliances with automatic DST update on Oct. 29, you might need to do so next spring when DST starts earlier. Devices not connected to a network will reset according to the old DST schedule, and will need to be reset manually.
Drive safely. As it gets darker earlier, be extra alert for children and animals.
Inspect vehicle lights. Inspect the entire lighting system in your car to ensure that all lights are working properly. Clean headlights and make sure they are correctly aligned according to the owner's manual.
Update your family disaster plan. To respond properly to a natural disaster or other cataclysmic event, you need to have a plan in place and the necessary supplies on hand, and be prepared to act. See our free emergency guide to preparing for any storm or disaster.
Plan accordingly when traveling. Some areas of the United States and some of its territories do not observe DST, including Hawaii, most of Arizona, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. And in Europe, DST runs from the last Sunday in March through the last Sunday in October.
Check storage areas for hazardous materials. Properly dispose of any materials that are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Make sure those you keep are out of the reach of kids or pets.
Program thermostats for savings. Shave up to 20 percent off your heating costs by lowering your home thermostat 5° F at night and 10° F during the day if no one is home. Most electronic setback thermostats let you program different schedules for each day. Many automatically switch from heating to cooling, and some tell you when it's time to change your furnace or air-conditioner filters.
You can also lop 50 percent off your utility bill by replacing the bulbs in just 25 percent of your most frequently used fixtures with compact fluorescents (CFLs). Some CFLs offer softer color and ballasts designed to eliminate humming. Also consider replacing torchère lamps with halogen bulbs--they use 60 to 80 percent more energy than fixtures fitted with CFLs. Also, install motion or light sensors on outdoor lighting so that fixtures turn on only when needed.
