As you prepare for the holidays, your home’s safety should be at the top of your concerns. The last thing you want is to deal with an emergency when you should be relaxing and unwinding. Here are some tips to work with to ensure your home is safe.
1. Home Fires
Gas is very useful in cooking, heating, and other home uses. However, a lack of information on how safety procedures are applied to protect homeowners has led to many accidents and explosions. The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that 79% of injuries can be traced to the distribution of natural gas lines.
You’ll need to be proactive to help prevent home fires from starting. Equip yourself with knowledge on how to put out a fire to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the house in case you find yourself in such a situation. Buy a fire extinguisher for your home, and learn how to use it.
Educate all family members on the basics of fire safety and lead by example. Keep lighters and matchboxes far out of the reach of children, and keep all flammable items at least three feet away from any hot item. This includes space heaters, ovens, and fireplaces. When you are cooking, stay inside the kitchen.
This is to monitor what you’re cooking so that it does not burn and to be on alert in case something else catches fire in the kitchen. After you’re done with cooking, turn off your stove. All controlled fires, including fire pits and fireplaces, should be extinguished before you leave the area. Avoid starting a fire outdoors without taking proper precautions if you live in a dry place.
2. Install a Security System
There are numerous security systems for different budgets and all protection levels. You don’t have to worry about not finding something that fits your requirements. Start by listing your home’s security needs to kick off the process. Doing this will help you better understand the risks you’re protecting against and the security system you need.
A Bowling Green State University report indicates that over 90% of people in many Western nations get married before they are 50. For young families, installing an intelligent remote monitoring system will ensure their safety at home and away. This is especially true if they’re usually traveling and spending a lot of time away from home.
3. Doors and Windows
Home break-ins happen even during day hours. Burglars will effortlessly enter a house without security reinforcement on its doors and windows. If you’ve just moved into the house, install new door locks unique to your family.
Inspect your door frames to ensure the hinges are in place and working. If your door has a slot for dropping the mail in, ensure it is not near your lock. Some thieves can use such a slot to access the door lock.
Add a door sensor to make your door burglar-proof. Inspect your windows. Change the window latches to a type you are sure offers optimal protection.
4. Renovate
It’s your responsibility to repair items that no longer work inside your home. Besides that, you also need to keep updating it to keep things fresh. According to Proline, when renovating their homes, 94% of homeowners opt to replace their cabinets. They can either do a full or a partial replacement.
If you take on this project, put safety locks in. This way, you can lock up your valuables and vital documents. Consider investing in a fire-resistant and waterproof safe for such essential items.
Investing in safety measures for your home may initially cost you, but it will serve your best interests. Work with a professional to determine what works best for your home. You should also make it a habit to continually educate yourself on the security risks in your home area so that you take necessary precautions early.