Every homeowner wants their property to be comfortable for family and friends. The house should be welcoming, safe, and secure. To help maintain this environment, here are a few home safety essentials to add to your household.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors save lives by providing an early alert in case of fire. Test your devices monthly and replace the batteries twice every year. Teach young children to recognize the sound of the alarm and make an escape plan with your family so everyone can exit safely.
Good Lighting in the Home is Essential for Safety
Good lighting keeps indoor and outdoor living spaces safer. A well-lit kitchen helps you see better to chop vegetables and cook food. Staircases should have adequate lighting to help prevent stumbles and falls.
Use solar or LED light stakes to illuminate outdoor walkways for safety at night. Install motion-detecting lights outside to make your property safer to navigate in the dark and to deter burglars.
Handrails are Safety Essentials for Your Home
Handrails provide stability on stairs, especially for younger children and elderly adults. Examine the handrails in your home to make sure they are securely attached to the walls. Check wooden rails for splinters and sand and re-stain when needed.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are essential for tackling small fires in the home. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, garage, and laundry room in case of a clothes dryer fire. Have at least one fire extinguisher on each level of your home. Make sure you know how to use the device and teach older children how to properly put out a fire.
GFCI Outlets
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets help prevent electric shock in the home. This type of outlet monitors the amount of current flowing to a device. If there’s water or moisture, the outlet will quickly close the circuit.
GFCI are commonly installed in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas where moisture might be a problem. Test your GFCI outlets once a month to make sure they are functioning properly.
Home Safety Essentials: Rug Pads
A rug pad serves two purposes: it makes a rug softer and more comfortable to walk on and it helps to prevent slipping. Rug pads are essential in the home because they keep the rug in place.
Especially when you have a rug on hardwood floors, a pad helps secure the rug and prevent accidents. Choose a rug pad that is thick and made of non-slip materials.
Danny Inspections offers home inspection services to the Chicago metropolitan area. If you’re buying or selling your home, contact us to schedule an appointment.