diff --git a/deploy/home-assistant-deploy.yaml b/deploy/home-assistant-deploy.yaml
index 8b5dc19..2381834 100644
--- a/deploy/home-assistant-deploy.yaml
+++ b/deploy/home-assistant-deploy.yaml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ spec:
       labels:
         app: home-assistant
     spec:
+      dnsPolicy: ClusterFirstWithHostNet # ensures pod uses cluster DNS (CoreDNS) for service discovery even with host networking
       hostNetwork: true
       #  delays start so host have time to start on low memory resources
       initContainers:
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ spec:
       containers:
         - name: home-assistant
           image: "homeassistant/home-assistant"
+          env:
+            - name: TZ
+              value: Europe/Lisbon  # set timezone      
           volumeMounts:
             - name: home-assistant-config
               mountPath: /config