Remember those annual reminders to check your smoke alarm batteries when you turn your clocks back?
Those will become a thing of the past when a new state law takes effect April 1.
The law requires that all new or replacement smoke detectors sold in New York state be either powered by a 10-year, sealed, non-removable battery, or hardwired to the home.
People who currently have smoke detectors with batteries that have to be changed every year or so will still be able to use them, but when they need to be replaced, those kinds of detectors will no longer be available for sale after April 1.
The change is a good idea, especially for people who forget to check their batteries or remove the batteries when smoke from cooking sets off the alarm and then forget to put them back in, said Elmira Fire Marshal Richard Keyes.
"I hear about it all the time about people taking batteries out," Keyes said. "(Sealed battery detectors) will cost you more up front, but over the life of the detector, it will be cheaper because you are not replacing the battery.