Simple Safety Measures Can Help Protect Your Home
Yes, you have homeowners insurance to protect yourself in the event of an unfortunate event, but! There are some simple safety measures to keep yourself safe before a catastrophe comes knocking.
Pick up your stairs. Remove any toys, books and laundry that will take you on the ride of your life if you step on them. Also, make sure your rails – Yes, you have to have them — are secure and fix them if they wobble; they are simply not secure.
Photo by Rebecca Peterson-Hall on Unsplash
Take extra care with candles. Keep candles away from kids, pets and anything flammable. Always make sure you extinguish candles before leaving the house or going to bed. For added peace of mind, consider swapping traditional candles for LED versions.
Secure your TV. A falling TV could cause serious injury to someone in your house; this is especially common when it comes to kids. Mounting your TV to the wall, anchoring furniture with anti-tip brackets, and installing anti-tip straps on the back of any non-wall-mounted TVs can largely reduce the risk of a tipping accident.
Inspect your walkways. Your front walkway is a common spot for a slip-and-fall accident, so have any cracked or uneven areas fixed. During winter, be sure to clear your sidewalks and steps of snow and ice accumulation.
Use extension cords carefully. Don’t use electrical extension cords in place of permanent wiring. They are a temporary solution! Also, do not cover extension cords with a blanket or rug.
Test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Test both your smoke and your carbon monoxide detectors once a month to make sure they’re in good working order. Set a reminder! These tools are lifesavers.
Clean out dryer vents. Frequently cleaning out your lint screen isn’t always enough to keep your dryer vent from becoming clogged and starting a dryer fire. Have a handyman come in at least once a year to give the vent system a good cleaning.
And, of course, having the right insurance coverage protection is the best safety plan. If you want an insurance review or to talk about your coverages, please call us. We are happy to help.