Top Ten Home Safety Tips

After you’ve moved in to your new home, you might experience a learning curve. There are so many things that go along with a home that you may not be familiar with. And sometimes it can be hard to know what to worry about what to let go. But you’d hate to “let go” of a serious problem and have it become a safety issue. To help you sort through these problems, we’re going to offer up our ten biggest safety tips for homeowners today.

#1: Prevent an Electricity Fire
If you ever smell burning near an outlet you should trip the circuit breaker immediately. If the smell goes away, then contact your electrician for a nonemergency visit. They will be able to tell you what the issue is and make any necessary fixes. But, if the smell continues, you should leave your home and call 911 at once.

#2: Check Your Smoke Alarms
It’s a good idea to check your smoke alarms regularly. A good way to remember when you should check your alarms is to preform a check each daylight savings time. In other words, when you go to move your clocks ahead and back, also check the batteries in your smoke alarms.

#3: Invest in a Carbon monoxide Detector
Most homes don’t come with a carbon monoxide detector. Therefore, you need to make sure that you purchase one yourself. Make sure that your detector is in a place where young children can’t pull it out. You’d hate for it to become unplugged without your knowing.

#4: Buy a Fire Extinguisher
Home fires are more common than you might think. That’s why it’s important that you buy a fire extinguisher. The most important place to have your fire extinguisher is in your kitchen. Make sure that it is in an easily accessible place.

Talk with your kids about how to use the extinguisher. Also explain to them when they should use the extinguisher and when they should leave the home. We also recommend that you let any babysitters or housesitters know where you keep your fire extinguisher just in case you aren’t home.

#5: Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Outlets
GFCI outlets should be installed in areas where outlets may come into contact with water, like kitchens and bathrooms. These outlets are designed to trip off when any variance in the current is noted. In other words, if you would happen to drop your curling iron in the sink, the GFCI would shut off before you were electrocuted.

#6: Prevent Water Burns
When you move into your new house, be sure that you properly adjust the water heater temperatures. As a rule of thumb, we always advise that your water temperature be set at a level where you can hold your hand under the water at the hottest setting without having to pull it out. By changing the water temperature you can ensure that your children will not be burned and need to be taken into the ER.

#7: If You Have a Chimney…
If you buy a home with a chimney, be sure that you call a professional chimney sweep BEFORE you start a fire. Chimneys should be cleaned on a regular basis in order to prevent fires and to ensure that the smoke is properly ventilated throughout your home. Don’t assume that your chimney is clean. Call a professional and have an evaluation completed.

#8: Lock It Up
Be sure that you take the time to put a safety look on your medicine and cleaning cabinets. Children have bad habits of exploring in places they ought not be. So, prevent poisoning and lock up any medicine and cleaning products you do not want little hands to have access to.

#9: Put Salt or Dirt Outside Your Front Door
When you live in Michigan, you are always at the risk of slipping on ice. No matter how good you think you are at skating, be sure that you keep your front steps and walk properly de-iced. We always recommend putting a bag of ice outside your front door and spreading it throughout the day to protect yourself, your visitors, and your postman.

#10: Keep Your Social Media Under Wraps
Social media is a basic form of communication these days. But, be sure that you don’t over-post on your social media account. To best protect your house and yourself, don’t post when you will be taking vacations or leaving your home for prolonged periods of time. You may always want to limit the amount of photos you take of your personal items. Over-posting your expensive items might be an open invitation for burglary.

Be sure that you take the necessary steps this season to keep you, your family and your home safe. What do you do regularly to protect your home? We want to know! Leave us a note in the comments below.