Home safety is a critical consideration. You have to make an effort to protect your family and property. Understanding the best way to keep your home safe is very important. This requires putting various things into consideration, as you are going to discover below. Check the following checklist items to help you ensure a safe environment with minimized risks to your home.
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Security system
More than 2.5 million U.S. homes are broken into annually. Homes without security systems in place have higher chances of burglar attacks. A security system, including a CCTV camera and burglar alarm, can significantly deter a break-in into your home. Quality security systems come with various security features like night vision and motion detection to safeguard your home better. Getting an appropriate security system requires working with a professional agency. This will first do a security audit at your home before recommending and installing the correct method.
Safeguard against structural damage.
Protecting your home from structural damage is an essential aspect of home security. This requires calling a contractor to inspect your home and give you an inspection report. The report will contain issues that need replacement or repair. It is essential to get problems fixed on detection before they escalate. Have all cracks in the wall or ground changes around your home worked upon by a professional to reinforce the structural integrity of your home? This might put your home at risk of significant structural damage and costly repairs.
Scheduled roof inspection
Annual roof inspection at least once is essential, especially before and after a harsh weather season. The assessment allows the detection of damages early before they escalate. Professional Los Angeles roofing repairs are necessary to fix damaged or missing shingles and sagging areas on your roof. You must call a professional roofer when you notice visible daylight inside the attic.
During the routine roof inspection, the roofer will check the gutters. These are prone to clogging with debris over time, which might lead to water damage to your home’s foundation during the rainy season. The presence of trash on the gutters might also cause water to leak into the basement, where it might cause additional damage. Professional gutter cleaning is essential to detect areas with leaks.
Install alarms and detectors.
It is essential to have a smoke alarm installed in your home. This alarm early detection of potential fire before it gets out of hand. Equally important is the installation of carbon monoxide detectors. This gas is hazardous to life, and its early detection protects your family from impending danger. You are better positioned to call for appropriate assistance before disaster strikes. However, regular inspection of the alarms and detectors is crucial to ensure the batteries are still working.
HVAC maintenance
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are significant in a home. After installing your HVAC, regular inspection is essential. This ensures that the system is working efficiently to meet your expectations. The review also allows early detection of errors before they escalate into costly repairs or system breakdowns. The technician will clean or replace clogged filters in the air conditioner to lower the energy bill and promote good indoor air quality.
Electrical wiring
Electrical short circuits sometimes cause home fires. Therefore, another item on the home safety checklist is minding your electrical installations, wiring, and electrical switchboards. This requires not overloading the circuits and replacing all old and damaged wires. Call a professional electrical engineer before occupying a new home or after you have settled the house for some time. This ensures the place is safe and all electrical installations are in proper order.
Have a communication plan.
Despite all efforts to ensure the safety of your home, having a communication plan for emergencies is very important. In case of an accident, your internet or telephone service might fail. So, ensure that there is another communication option. Perhaps you should give trusted family members and friends vital information as a backup communication plan. This might include:
- Information about your doctor
- Schools your children attend
- Relevant contact informant for next-of-kind
- Details about relevant service providers
Know your neighbors
Good neighbors are always the first line of defense during an emergency. Get to know your neighbors and always watch out for each other for a strong community. This might even include forming a neighborhood watch group on WhatsApp to keep the community safe in all circumstances. Your neighbors can watch for anything unusual happening when you are away. In addition, you can even keep a spare key with the neighbors in case you lose your key or during a lockout.
Have an emergency kit.
Regardless of the precautions in place, emergencies come unexpectedly. These might result from natural disasters beyond your control. It is, therefore, essential to have an emergency plan with an appropriate kit. This should include enough supplies to last you through before help arrives. Some of the crucial items in the survival kit might have:
- Flashlight
- Medications
- First-aid supplies
- Food and water
- Personal hygiene items
Bottom line
Keeping your home safe is very important. It offers peace of mind and makes your home more livable. You have to try to contact various professionals, like experienced roofers, for appropriate assistance to keep your home safe.