As a homeowner, maintaining a safe home environment should be one of your highest priorities. What that means can depend significantly on the design of your home, size of your household, and location where you live. There are different types of threats to your safety at home, including environmental threats like storms and external threats like burglary. Addressing both is essential if you want to make sure that you and everyone else in your home can have peace of mind. If you want to develop better habits at home, read on to learn more about some things you can do every day to keep your home safer.
How can you keep your home safer?
Home maintenance is an essential part of home safety. Neglecting to take care of home systems and appliances can lead to costly breakdowns and dangerous malfunctions. Take good care of your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems especially and make sure you have them inspected regularly. Your HVAC should be serviced at least once annually and requires a filter change every 90 days.
Depending on where you live, you may have specific climate concerns to address. If you reside along the Gulf Coast of the United States, you’ll definitely need to know how you can prepare for and stay safe during a hurricane or a tropical storm. Your home will be vulnerable to a number of hazards, like high winds, heavy rain, downed power lines, and a large amount of debris. When the storm is over, you should look into a water damage restoration service that can help you fix any destruction caused by the hurricane.
No matter where you live, it’s a good idea to put together an emergency kit. This can include items like a flashlight, a charger for your cell phone, and a mini-generator that can help you power some of your devices in a storm. You can also purchase a hand-operated radio that will enable you to listen to NOAA weather programming. Taking basic precautions like locking windows and doors and remembering to set your alarm system can also go a long way.
What other home improvements can be worthwhile?
If your goal is to increase the value of your home, focus on the rooms you use the most. A small-scale kitchen or bathroom remodel can make a big difference. A bathroom that hasn’t been updated in years would probably benefit from a new shower installation, especially if you’re considering selling in the future. New fixtures like countertops, faucets, and tile can also make a real difference in the look and feel of a space. Old or damaged flooring can also be a safety risk, so consider replacing yours if it is in poor condition.
Exterior improvements are another great way to add value while also protecting your home, though you’ll need to make sure they’re protected in the event of severe weather. Any area vulnerable to strong wind should have a plan for securing things like patio furniture and umbrellas. If you plan to invest in landscaping, talk to your landscape designer about what steps you can take to prevent property damage.
It can be difficult to ensure that your home is a safe place. The weather can create significant safety risks ranging from hurricanes to tornadoes to fires and more. It’s impossible to be prepared for everything, but there’s a lot you can do to make sure you’re ready in most of the emergency situations you’re likely to encounter. While it can require an investment of time and money, it’s more than worth it to ensure that your home is protected. You’ll sleep soundly at night knowing you’ve done everything you can to keep yourself and your family members safe.
