Whether or not you are planning a vacation soon, it’s important to take measures to protect your home and property, while keeping your family and guests safe from home hazards. Learn how to increase your home’s safety and security with these tips and tricks.
1. Landscape Lighting
One of the biggest lures for would-be thieves is a dark property. Dimly lit properties with hiding places affords the greatest security for thieves, and does just the opposite for you.
Even if you have a home security system, the best home security prevention includes well-designed landscape lighting and motion sensor lights. Not only does exterior lighting improve your home’s safety and security, it also makes everything look nicer.
We all know how important lighting is for a good portrait or selfie, but we often don’t think of improving the lighting to show off your home in its best light. If you want to improve home safety (prevent slips and falls), security (wards off would-be thieves), and curb appeal (bright and beautiful home), then schedule a landscape lighting consultation with your professional electrician.
2. Doors and Windows
How do people break into homes? Through a door or window of course. In order to secure your home properly, you’ll want to think like a burglar and inspect all of your doors and windows for weak spots. Broken doors and windows should be fixed as soon as possible.
If you have sliding doors, you may want to install a metal bar attachment in the tracks to make them harder to open. You can also purchase and install sensors on your doors and windows to sound if they are opened.
Doors and windows also present safety problems for the inhabitants of a home, especially for the young and elderly.
Here are a few safety tips to prevent door accidents at home:
Place a decal (at eye level) on your sliding glass doors to prevent people from walking or running into the glass.
Make sure doors and windows are properly installed (if they open or close too fast or bind and stick, this could cause a fall or injury).
Keep fingers and hands clear of door hinges.
Screen doors and other doors on springs shouldn’t close too quickly.
It’s a good idea to have a shelf or bench near the door where people enter and exit the home. People can rest or place down items to prevent trips, falls, and dropped items.
Thousands of people injure themselves every year when opening, closing, or cleaning their windows.
Make sure windows open and close easily, screens are secure but removable, and never clean the outside of windows if it isn’t safe to do so.
Learn ladder safety tips before you try using one to clean the outside of any windows.
3. Electrical Safety
Electrical hazards can be found in nearly any home. Faulty electrical wires, lighting, and devices not only present shock hazards, they are also a common culprit in home fires.
We strongly recommend scheduling a professional electrical safety inspection every year to find and fix electrical hazards around the home.
Here are a few signs that you have an electrical safety problem in the home:
There is a sulfuric, burning plastic, or rotten egg smell near any of your switches, outlets, or electrical devices. This can indicate a serious electrical fire hazard. Turn off power to the circuit from your breaker box and call a professional electrician right away.
Extended use of extension cords. You should only ever use extension cords for temporary use.
If you need permanent power somewhere, call an electrician to install a new outlet and/or circuit.
Replace any cords, wires, and electrical devices that show fraying, exposed wires, or other signs of wear and tear.
Never run cords in high traffic areas, underneath rugs, or in any area where it can be pinched or caught.
Never staple or puncture wires.
If any or your breakers continue to trip, call your local electrician.
Make sure you are using the light wattage light bulb for your light fixtures.
If any outlets or light switch feel warm to the touch or give off shocks, turn off power to the circuit and contact your licensed electrician.
Call your local electrician if lights are dimming/flickering, AFCI/GFCI outlets aren’t working, outlets are discolored or warm to the touch, or you need more electrical circuits.
4. Heating and Cooling Safety
Here are the main things you should to prevent home fires and poisonings due to heating and cooling equipment:
Schedule a professional air conditioning tune-up in the early spring.
Schedule a professional heating tune-up in the fall.
Make sure you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed outside of every sleeping area and on every level of the home.
Test your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors every 30 days.
Replace smoke and CO detector every 10 years (or according to your owner’s manual)
Change the batteries in your smoke and CO detectors at least once every year.
As always, OnTime Service wants to provide you with safety and peace of mind. Click here for more safety tips!
We offer smoke and CO detector service as well as expert advice. Give us a call at 205-942-1405 or contact us online.
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Call OnTime Service at 205-942-1405 to schedule your next HVAC, electrical, and plumbing service.
Our experienced team of technicians is fully trained to handle any heating system. As always, we will troubleshoot your home and give you straightforward pricing options before any work begins.
