It’s time to turn your clocks back again
And maybe take care of some chores once you’re well-rested from that extra hour of sleep.
Daylight Saving Time is Sunday morning, which means the sun will set in Boston just after 4:30 p.m. for the next week, serving as a reminder that another winter will soon be upon us.
On the bright side, you’ll get an extra hour of sleep Saturday night. Here are some of the things — aside from changing the few manual clocks you still have lying around that won’t fix themselves — that you can do with an extra 60 minutes on your hands.
Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
The National Fire Protection Association suggests that alarm batteries be replaced twice yearly, so lining that chore up with Daylight Saving Time will help you remember.
Reverse your ceiling fans
Having your fans run clockwise during the winter can save on energy costs — when the blades move in the opposite direction, they circulate warm air throughout the room according to Energy Star. The change could allow you to lower your thermostat a few degrees throughout the winter.
Flip your mattress
Flipping your mattress decreases wear and tear and can help it to last longer, according to Mattress.com.
Get your furnace inspected
To save costs on energy and keep your furnace performing at peak conditions, Energy Star recommends having the system inspected twice yearly. Making a point to do that when Daylight Saving Time rolls around might help you to remember.
Shut off outside water fixtures
With a potentially brutal New England winter and freezing temperatures on the way, it’s a good time to turn off outside water so that water in the pipes doesn’t freeze and cause them to burst.
Seal air leaks in your home
Taking care of air leaks before colder weather sets in can save on energy costs and eliminate unpleasant drafts, according to Energy Star. These are common along windows and doors and can be fixed with caulk or spray foam.
All of these winter-ready tasks and semi-annual home improvements might not sound like fun, but taking care of them while making it through the antiquated concept of Daylight Saving Time could help you get all of the unpleasantness out of the way at once. Sure, the time change could throw off your sleep schedule or impact your health and performance at work, but at least you can say you took care of some chores, right?
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