Clocks fall back Sunday — use the extra hour to check your alarms

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, when clocks fall back one hour to standard time. Along with an extra hour of sleep, state officials say the change is a good reminder to run through a few household safety checks.
“Turning back the clocks is easy, but being prepared takes a little bit of planning,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle. “Wisconsinites should take advantage of that extra hour to take a few extra steps to protect their families and loved ones.”

Check smoke and CO alarms
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms warn of fire and of invisible, harmful gas leaking from furnaces and other appliances. Wisconsin Emergency Management recommends:
• Testing every alarm in the home.

• Replacing alarm batteries at least once a year.
• Checking the manufacture date on each alarm. Carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced about every five to seven years, and smoke alarms every 10 years.

Heat your home safely
With furnaces running more often, homeowners should have furnaces and chimneys professionally inspected. Space heaters should sit at least three feet from anything that can burn.

Refresh your emergency kit and plan

This weekend is also a good time to check emergency kits for expired items, or for supplies that were borrowed and never replaced. Families should review their emergency plans with children, older adults, and anyone else in the household.