4 Ways to Make Your Home Safer
Home is where you should feel safest, but it’s also the place where accidents are most likely to occur. We get so used to our own environment that it’s easy to overlook potential dangers, which can increase the likelihood of someone getting hurt. Fortunately, there are ways to identify hazards and prevent unwanted incidents. To get started, take a look at these four ways to make your home safer:
1. Check Alarms Regularly
If you’ve already installed fire alarms, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and burglar alarms, you’re taking steps to maximise home safety. However, it’s vital to check all alarms regularly to make sure they’re functioning optimally. Whether your alarms are battery-powered or connected to mains electricity, be sure to check they’re working on a regular basis so that you know you can rely on them.
Don’t wait until your kitchen is a fireball before working out that the smoke alarms don’t work.
If you live in a rented home, your landlord should check and provide new alarms if the old ones no longer work.
2. Stay Up to Date with Home Maintenance
When little jobs get left undone, they can quickly escalate into more major repairs and pose a safety risk in the process. Creating an annual home maintenance checklist is an easy way to stay on top of what needs to be done and it will provide you with reminders for season-specific tasks, like clearing the gutters or pressure washing the patio.
Mark seasonal jobs on a calendar so you can tick them off as you do them. If there are tasks you can’t manage or would prefer not to do, such as cleaning out the gutters or trimming the hedges, ask a local handyman to do them for you. There are always local tradespeople happy to tackle small jobs like this, but do make sure you hire someone reputable and don’t pay them until the work is complete and you are happy with the result.
3. Protect Against Storm Damage
Prevention is better than the cure, so take steps to protect your home against storm damage. Adverse weather conditions can cause significant property damage and put your life at risk, which is why it’s essential to protect your home and your family as much as possible. Replacing loose roof tiles, fitting air brick covers, and adding non-return valves to pipes are simple measures that could prevent your home from flooding or succumbing to storm damage.
Remember – if your home is damaged due to weather conditions, you may be able to claim on your home insurance. However, it’s worth checking your home insurance policy in advance to determine whether any exclusions apply. With the right home insurance policy, you can increase the level of protection you have and enjoy added peace of mind.
4. Keep Storage Areas Secure
If you have young children, you’ll know how easy it is for them to get into almost anything! In fact, keeping your kids away from potential home hazards can be one of the hardest jobs as a parent. However, adding security to internal storage areas can make things significantly easier. When you have lockable cupboards or a lockable utility room, for example, you can store cleaning products and other potentially hazardous products securely and prevent youngsters from gaining access to them.
Safe storage is not just an issue when you have children. Outside sheds and garages are a prime target for opportunistic thieves who would like nothing better than to steal your expensive mountain bike and power tools.
Always fit a strong lock on sheds and bars across the windows. If you have a garage that is not directly connected to your house, consider installing an alarm system so you are alerted if anyone tries to force their way in. Single-pane windows are easy to break or force open; replacing them with a UPVC window is safer.
Fit Security Lighting
Security lighting is a great way to deter intruders. Most burglars prefer to operate under cover of darkness, and if they trigger a very bright security light while creeping around your home, they are likely to disappear very quickly.
Security Cameras
These days, it is very inexpensive to install small cameras around a property. They can be connected to an app so you can view your home in real-time from another location.
How Safe Is Your Home?
It’s easy to assume that your home is super-safe, but we can all take steps to improve our home security. Ask a friend or family member to assist you in conducting a risk assessment and try to remain as impartial as possible when identifying potential safety concerns. Then, you’ll have a clear idea of what needs to be done to enhance your home and increase your family’s safety.
