It’s time to turn the clocks forward one hour on Sunday, March 8, and remember to test home safety devices and reset sprinkler system timers.
Sunday marks the beginning of daylight saving time and is a great opportunity to install fresh batteries and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. When functional, these devices can double a family’s chance of surviving a home fire or an unsafe carbon monoxide level.
When resetting clocks, residents and property owners with automatic sprinkler systems should also consider having timers checked to avoid risking fines for watering at the wrong time and see if irrigation timers have back-up batteries that need changing.
Home Safety Reminders
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue reminds residents to test and change batteries in smoke alarms and CO detectors to protect their family and home.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, two-thirds of fire deaths occur in homes where there are no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. A working CO detector is important because carbon monoxide gas is colorless and odorless, and silently poisons victims. Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of fuel in various products, including furnaces, portable generators, fireplaces, cars, and charcoal grills.
In addition to changing smoke alarm batteries this weekend, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends the following safety tips:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, both inside and outside any sleeping areas, especially if family members sleep with their bedroom doors closed.
- Keep smoke alarms clean because dust may prevent them from working properly.
- Listen for the smoke alarm “chirping” noise which indicates low battery power and replace batteries immediately.
- Replace smoke alarms about every 10 years.
Residents of unincorporated Hillsborough County who do not currently have a smoke alarm may be eligible to have a free one installed. For more information, contact Nacole Revette, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, at (813) 272-6600.
Sprinkler System Reminders
All watering must be done before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. The restrictions apply to most water sources, including private wells, and ponds or lakes that are used as alternate irrigation supplies.
The schedule for watering established lawns and landscaping in unincorporated Hillsborough County is as follows:
| Address | Day |
|---|---|
| Addresses ending in the number 0, 1, 2 or 3 | Monday & Thursday |
| Addresses ending in the number 4, 5 or 6 | Tuesday & Friday |
| Addresses ending in the number 7, 8 or 9 | Wednesday & Saturday |
It is worth taking a few minutes to check and reset the timer of an automatic sprinkler system. For residents living in unincorporated Hillsborough County, violating the restrictions could mean a penalty of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, leading up to $500 for the fifth and succeeding violations. Non-payment will result in a summons to appear before a code enforcement special magistrate, and the possibility of additional fines and a lien being placed against the property.
For additional information, please visit our Water Restrictions page.