A sure sign that spring is on the way, the clocks spring forward this weekend.

It was a slim margin, but in the last election, Albertans voted 'no' to permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST), and opted to stick with the twice-a-year clock change.

That means this Sunday, March 13, at 2 a.m. the clocks will spring forward by one hour, and we'll be losing an hour of sleep.

When it comes to Daylight Saving Time, Fire Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire Services says that there's more to it than just changing the clocks.

Avery says that  Daylight Saving Time is the perfect time of year to do updates and maintenance on your home detectors.

"We're just reminding all residents to change the batteries out of your CO alarms as well as your smoke alarms, give them a test and maybe do a little test on your Family Evacuation Plan."

He says that even if they appear to be in working condition it's a good idea to take these simple precautions.

Avery says that the batteries in hardwired detectors can still drain and he recommends changing those out too. 

"A lot of times a hardwire smoke alarm will be a battery backup," explains Avery. "It's very easy to disconnect those from the wall,  just take the cover off if you're unsure, you'll be able to see a battery; it'll be usually just a nine-volt one. So, very easy to change out and then plug back in, mount it back on the wall and you're good to go."

Avery says that there's little cost involved with taking these measures and the added safety benefit can be lifesaving.

"Smoke alarms and CO alarms are a life-saving tool," says Avery. "They're in your house for a reason so make sure they're working. Make sure the batteries are working and they will work." 

The clocks change over at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday.