Seasonal checklist

Clocks go back: test your alarms this weekend

UK clocks go back on Sunday, 25 October 2026. GOV.UK and Fire Kills use that hour as the cue to test every smoke alarm — and it is a good moment for carbon monoxide alarms and the filters you only remember when they taste stale.

Tick the list on paper, or save the replacements on When's It Due so they show as due next time. Nothing is emailed or pushed. The list stays in this browser.

1. 1. Test every smoke alarmPress the test button on each alarm. If it does not sound, replace the battery or the alarm. Fire Kills and GOV.UK both use clocks-changing weekend as the reminder.Add a monthly alarm test →
2. 2. Replace the battery if it failed, chirps, or is dueMost mains alarms still need a backup 9V cell. Typical replacement is about once a year — the same cycle as this clocks-go-back weekend.Save a 9V smoke-alarm battery →
3. 3. Test carbon monoxide alarms and check the expiryCheck the expiry date on the back; most CO alarms last 5–10 years. Test every alarm. Fit one in rooms with a boiler, fire, or gas cooker.Save a 10-year CO alarm →
4. 4. Change jug and tap water filters if they are dueBRITA says MAXTRA-style cartridges last about four weeks. If you cannot remember the last change, treat it as due.Save a water filter →
5. 5. Check the fridge water filterFridge dispensers are easy to forget. Many cartridges are due every six months. Save one if you have a dispenser.Save a fridge filter →