Reminder to check your smoke detector batteries this weekend Toby Talbot/ASSOCIATED PRESS Barre Firefighter Matthew Cetin, left, and Deputy Chief Russell Ashe hold smoke detectors in a smoke room in Barre, Vt., Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008. and last updated 2021-03-12 03:58:42-05 BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) â Sunday March 14 marks the beginning of daylight saving time, and firefighters say that's the perfect time to check your smoke detectors. The Firemen's Association of the State of New York says you should change your batteries twice a year, so the time switch is a great opportunity to do it, since you won't have to change your clocks for another six months.