Israel Prepares for Daylight Saving Time Change: Key Household Checks Recommended

Israel is set to transition to standard time this coming weekend, specifically on the night between October 24th and 25th. At 2:00 AM, clocks will be turned back one hour. While most smart devices automatically adjust, many household appliances are not connected to the internet and will continue to operate on the old time, potentially causing disruptions.

To ensure a smooth transition, it is crucial to check several key household items. Mechanical timers and "Shabbat clocks" in the electrical panel or outlets, which are not network-connected, will continue to run on the old schedule. Failure to manually adjust these by one hour could result in the electric water heater, heating systems, and home lighting operating an hour later than intended, leading to a lack of hot water at desired times and wasted electricity.

Appliances with digital displays, such as ovens, microwaves, and dishwashers, have built-in clocks that do not receive external time updates. Beyond the confusion of an incorrect display, this can affect scheduled operations. For instance, a pre-programmed late-night cycle for a dishwasher or oven will commence at the wrong hour.

Local recording systems for security cameras and intercoms, like DVRs, embed timestamps directly onto video footage. Without manual calibration or setting a proper time server, these timestamps will be inaccurate. In the event of a security incident, incorrect timestamps could complicate the retrieval of footage and compromise evidence.

While digital work calendars on mobile devices typically update automatically, the timing of daylight saving time changes varies globally. Israel's transition occurs before Europe and the United States, creating a temporary one-hour time difference that could disrupt scheduled international meetings.

Personal medical devices and monitoring systems, including insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and CPAP machines, are not network-connected and require manual adjustment. An inaccurate time setting could disrupt medication schedules and interfere with ongoing medical monitoring. It is recommended to perform these adjustments immediately upon waking on the day of the time change.