Creating a safe home environment is essential whether you’re an adult living independently or if you have a household of children. When it comes to implementing safe living in your own residence, there are a few tips from a home safety council to keep in mind. Referencing the following tips for safe living from a home safety council can help you to better prepare your home, belongings, and furnishings to maximize the protection you have at all times.
1. Inspect Electrical Outlets and Cords
Taking the time to inspect electrical outlets and cords is imperative when you want to ensure the safety of your home. Electrical work that is incomplete or not wired properly poses a significant threat and risk to your property and to anyone in the home. When electrical work is not properly wired, there is an increased risk of fires that can occur at any time. If you are unfamiliar with working on electrical outlets and with electricity overall, it’s best to turn to a professional electrician to get the job done right.
Why Work With Professional Electricians
Hiring a professional electrician is a way to protect yourself from potential risks, such as shocks, fire, and even fatalities in serious cases. Professional electricians are licensed, insured, and trained. They often hold numerous certifications that permit them to work in residential homes without putting the homeowner or property investor at any risk, legally or financially. Contact a home safety council to get references to professional electricians today!
2. Check on Your Home’s Heating System
Maintaining your home’s HVAC heating and cooling systems is another important priority to keep in mind if safety matters to you as a homeowner. Checking on your HVAC system periodically is a way for you to determine if you have any repairs, upgrades, or replacements that are required at the time. When you are inspecting your HVAC system, you may want to consider seeking an HVAC contracting provider to help you each step of the way.
Advantages of HVAC Contractors
Hiring HVAC specialists and companies is a way to protect your HVAC system whether you’re interested in ongoing maintenance checkups and inspections or if you require a repair job or a new installation. HVAC specialists are certified, licensed, and insured to work in residential and commercial properties. Additionally, they can help expedite the process of repairing or replacing an air conditioning system or a complete furnace, regardless of the make and model you currently have installed in your home.
3. Maintain Your Plumbing at All Times
Taking care of the plumbing in your home will protect you from potential floods, mold, and sewer issues, especially if you have been living in your home for years or even decades. Tending to the toilets, fixtures, tubs, and drains in your home is best to do so with a professional plumber by your side that you can trust and rely on. A professional plumber is certified and licensed with insurance to protect all clients anytime they are in need of inspections, repairs, or replacements.
How to Find a Professional Residential Plumber
Finding the right professional plumber near you is possible by asking neighbors, friends, and even relatives that live in the same city or town as you for their personal recommendations. You can reference local business directories to compare your options while also searching online. Browsing online for a local plumber is possible whether you’re interested in hiring an independent contractor or if you prefer to work with an official local company near you. Alternatively, you can contact a home safety council to see if they can reccommend a plumber near you.
4. Ensure You Have Proper Insurance and Coverage
As a homeowner, you will need to protect your investment by obtaining the proper home insurance you need. The right homeowner’s insurance policy should protect your investment from potential disasters, theft, fires, and more. Anytime you are thinking of investing in a new property or making changes to your home, it’s important to work together with your preferred insurance agent to determine if you are making the right decisions every step of the way.
5. Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Whenever you are living in a property with carbon monoxide detectors installed, it’s imperative to check on them periodically. Checking your carbon monoxide detectors at least once a month is highly advisable for a homeowner or property investor. This will ensure that your batteries are currently working and that your detectors are in proper condition at all times, making your home much safer overall.
6. Hire Professional Pest Control Companies
Minimizing the risk of a pest infestation is also a priority for any property investor or homeowner. Pest infestations can range from traditional pests such as wasps, ants, termites, and cockroaches to snakes and scorpions, depending on where you live and the region you are in. When it comes to identifying and tackling a pest infestation, it’s best to turn to professional pest control services. The right pest control company will help remedy the infestation in and around your home as quickly as possible utilizing the best treatments and remedies available on the market today.
7. Invest in a Security System
Investing in a home security system or advanced alarm systems is highly recommended when you want to optimize your home for safe living. Security systems today can be purchased by selecting a package and service provider that is right for you or by investing in security equipment individually à la carte. Advanced security systems not only include motion sensors but can also be implemented alongside your smartphone, allowing you to keep an eye on your home from anywhere remotely and in real-time.
Advantages of a Home Security System
Investing in a new security system for your home is not just ideal for peace of mind. In fact, simply installing a home security system and signage around your home has the ability to deter potential burglars, according to FBI statistics. Most burglars and criminals who are searching for home targets do so with the intent to find a property that is without security. Installing a technologically advanced security system is also a way for you to keep an eye on any area of your home and property at all times. Using smartphone technologies make it easier than ever to protect your home even when you are at work or out of state.
8. Have Your Roof Inspected Routinely
The roof of any building is one of the most important elements to maintain over time. When it comes to ensuring your home is safe to live in, contacting professionals who offer roofing services for residential customers is highly recommended. Regular roof inspections can help you determine if your roof requires any updates or repairs, which can mitigate or reduce expensive replacements over time.
How to Find Trusted Roofers
Hiring a roofing company or roofing contractors is not always simple or straightforward, especially if you are new to an area or unfamiliar with the local companies and providers near you. Because roofing is such a major investment, it’s important to take the time to research and compare all of your options before finalizing your decision. Ask a home safety council or neighbors for recommendations, reference local business directories, and conduct a bit of research online before choosing a roofing company or provider to help with your inspections, repairs, or a new roofing installation you may need in the near future.
9. Change the Batteries on Your Smoke Alarms
Changing the batteries in the smoke alarms throughout your house is recommended to prevent them from not working when you need them most. Most often, it is advisable to replace the batteries in your home’s smoke alarms at least twice a year, or once every six months. Keep track of your smoke alarms and when you replaced their batteries to avoid forgetting the task once the time comes.
10. Invest in a Fire Alarm System
Investing in high-quality fire alarm systems is another way to add a layer of protection and security to your home today. If you want to protect your home as best as possible from smoke or fire, research fire alarm solutions that are optimal for the size of your home and your current budget. Fire alarm solutions and systems can help provide alerts when there is too much smoke detected somewhere in the home. With advanced systems, keep track of the current working condition and status of your system at any time by connecting it directly to your smartphone, depending on the technology you choose to install in your own home.
11. Create an Escape Plan for Your Home
Creating and devising an escape plan in your home is always recommended if you want to maximize the safety and protection of all of your loved ones. Before you begin devising your escape plan and strategy, consider the potential disasters and risks you are most exposed to in and around your home, as not all disasters or emergencies should be handled in the same manner. The more familiar you are with your surroundings and the area you live in, the easier it will be for you to create a working escape plan that is most relevant to your own environment.
The Importance of an Escape Plan
Having an escape plan is a way for you to share your thoughts with other members of your household before a disaster strikes. The more prepared your family is, the less likely you are to experience panic once you are in a dire situation yourself. An escape plan will also allow you to better plan and prepare ahead if you have a warning of a potential storm or natural disaster that is on its way. Contact a home safety council today for more tips!
12. Share Your Emergency Plans With Children in the Household
If you have any children in the home, it’s important to share your emergency plans with them, regardless of their age. Allowing your children to understand potential risky situations and scenarios is a way to better prepare them for incidents and disasters that may occur at one point or another in their lifetime. When your child is more aware of their surroundings and understands what constitutes an emergency, they are also much more likely to remain calm and clear-headed when in a time of need.
13. Stock Up on Emergency Supplies
Stocking up on emergency supplies is extremely important for anyone, whether your home is big or small. Having a supply of emergency gear can help you to feel much more prepared in the event of an emergency, such as a power outage or a natural disaster. Emergency supply kits can include non-perishable foods, water, cooking gear, and survival equipment, depending on where you live and the type of emergency system you envision for yourself and your household.
14. Maintain Your Landscaping Year-Round
Maintaining the landscaping of your home is essential to help minimize the risk of pest infestations and potential hazards outdoors. If your landscaping grows out of control and is no longer maintained, you run the risk of tripping whenever you step foot on your property. You may also allow potentially invasive plants and tree roots to disrupt the natural ecosystem of your property if the landscaping is not remedied as quickly as possible. If you want to create a safe environment in and around your home, you can do so by hiring a landscape company or contractor.
15. Work With Qualified Contractors on Updates and Construction Projects
Working with qualified contractors and home builders anytime you are thinking of completing a major construction project around the home is highly advisable. Whether your vision includes sustainable architecture or you want to guarantee that your new structure, you can maintain your own peace of mind with the right qualified construction worker or business by your side. Working with a qualified construction contractor will also help you to determine which route is right for you based on the type of construction project you are thinking of for your home and property.
A home safety council is a great place to look whenever you’re in need of tips to make your home even safer. A safe and welcoming environment will help you to feel much more comfortable whether you are living on your own or taking care of your entire family. With tips from a home safety council, you can ensure you are taking the right steps to protect all aspects of your home, regardless of its size and location.