Not only will we spring forward with daylight savings time but as you get up with one less hour of sleep Sunday, it wouldn't hurt to change the batteries on your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors as well.

Spring forward or fall back is the traditional times to check on your detectors but you might also want to check to see how much longer the monitor will last.

Okotoks Fire Chief Ken Thevenot says it shouldn't be just daylight savings time to check on them.

"It's a good time at least two times a year but every month as well to test smoke alarms," he says. "But make sure you change your batteries in your smoke alarms, we realize that a lot of people have hardwired smoke detectors but many of them have back up batteries in them."

Thevenot says that most monitors and detectors whether on themselves or the box they came in can tell when they expire.

"Just check manufacturing specifications on it. Sometimes they can be a straight smoke detector and they can be good up to ten years but again check the manufacturing details on it."

He says the same goes for combination detectors and carbon monoxide monitors.

"Carbon monoxide monitors are usually five to ten years and in the last number of years they're making them last a little bit longer so each one with manufacturers is different but usually they're labelled well."

If you're still not sure if your smoke alarms are up to date or need to be switched out, Thevenot says you can call the Fire Department and they'll conduct a free home inspection for you which includes monitor testing.

Fire Services' number is 403-938-4066

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