diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 491f824..a95f4b0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ Thumbs.db
 *.tmp
 *.temp
 
-# Secrets (sops-encrypted, never commit decrypted)
+# Helm values (contain environment-specific config)
+chart/values.yaml
 chart/values-secret.yaml
 
 # Melange / apko build artifacts
diff --git a/chart/values.yaml b/chart/values.yaml.example
similarity index 97%
rename from chart/values.yaml
rename to chart/values.yaml.example
index d3ce8c0..946921a 100644
--- a/chart/values.yaml
+++ b/chart/values.yaml.example
@@ -52,5 +52,5 @@ config:
   LOG_LEVEL: "INFO"
   RATE_LIMIT_ENABLED: "true"
   SESSION_MAX_AGE_SECONDS: "1209600"
-  TZ: "America/New_York"
+  TZ: "UTC"
   UPS_CONFIG_PATH: "/config/ups.yaml"