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PARKERSBURG - With Eastern Standard Time approaching this weekend, fire officials are encouraging residents to replace the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors after turning the clocks back one hour.

Daylight savings ends Sunday morning and standard time resumes. Clocks should be turned back one hour for the time change.

"It's that time of year again," said Capt. Carl Sizemore with the Parkersburg Fire Department. "Daylight-saving is just a good reminder for people to change their batteries twice a year. Pick a time Saturday evening to turn the clocks back, and then go ahead and put new batteries in your devices."

Nearly 20 percent of homes in the United States do not have working smoke alarms due to dead or missing batteries, which means about 25 million homes are at risk for deadly fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

"Most smoke alarms will make a chirping sound when the batteries are dead," Sizemore said. "But if you change and check your batteries and use quality batteries, you should never have to hear that sound."

In addition to changing batteries during daylight-saving time Saturday night, families should also test the batteries every month.

"All it takes is the press of a button to test the batteries," said Parkersburg Fire Chief Eric Chichester. "And I would suggest taking the time to practice the family's fire escape route with the kids when you change the batteries. It only takes a few minutes. Take them outside and show your kids where to go in case of a real fire. It can be a family activity."

The association recommends installing smoke detectors in every bedroom of the house and every level of the house, including the basement. Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed in a central location outside all sleeping rooms and in every level of the home.

The manufacturer's instructions will indicate how high the carbon monoxide detectors should be placed on the wall, said Chichester.

Some modern smoke detectors are sold with a lithium battery, which can last up to 10 years, but fire officials said the batteries must still be tested every month to make sure the device is in good shape.

In situations where smoke alarms activate in cases of burnt food in the kitchen, some smoke detectors have a "hush" button to silence the alarm temporarily. It is not a good idea to take out the batteries, said Chichester.

"If senior citizens or people with mobility problems need assistance in changing or testing their smoke detector batteries, call the fire department and we will come to your house and do it for you," said Chichester.