Daylight Savings Safety Tips:
Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November every year. In the spring, we set clocks forward one hour, and in the fall, we set clocks back one hour. Daylight savings time (DST) officially ends this year at 2:00 a.m. on November 1, 2020. Are you prepared? You might think all you need to do is set your clocks back, but think again: this is also the time to check in on your home security system to take assess its overall condition. The goal is to make sure your security system continues to work for you, especially as crimes like burglary increase as darkness sets in earlier each evening.
Because your home security system timestamps each record of alert/alarm activation, it’s important that the internal clock is set correctly. You’ve probably found that you don’t have to adjust the time on your cell phone or computer—nowadays, they have built-in technology that allows them to adjust automatically when DST occurs. Many security systems have similar technology. However, there is usually also a way to manually update your system to the correct time for your time zone. Along with the main alarm system, any video and access control elements of your home security system need to be adjusted as well. Some of these still have internal clocks that might need to be set manually, even if the rest of the system adjusts automatically. Follow the instructions in your system manual, or reach out to your home security system provider for help.
You also should change your smart home settings if they do not automatically update. Once DST ends and it starts getting dark earlier in the evening, your security lighting schedule will need to be changed; reprogramming the smart lighting component of your home security system is key to keeping your home safe from targeting by criminals like burglars.
Another thing to do is battery replacement for all smoke alarms/detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If these are monitored by your professional home security monitoring company, the company often will send reminders to do this because they observe battery life. But whether you have monitored detectors, now is a perfect time to test them. (Testing monthly is a good idea, but at least with every time change.) If you have hard-wired detectors that do not require batteries or that have back-up batteries, you still should test them; just be sure to put your security system in test mode first, per your system manual instructions.
The professional Dyezz Surveillance and Security team in Austin, Texas is ready to assist you with all of your home security needs. The experienced security experts at Dyezz can provide information about your security system options. For guidance about how to achieve greater peace of mind through the use of a high-quality home security system, contact Dyezz Surveillance and Security via their website or by calling 800-370-2762 (toll free) or 512-331-4248 (local) to set up your consultation and a free quote.