Most households can easily increase safety in the home environment by taking a good, long look around the home. Here are three steps you should take now for better home safety.
Electricity
Eliminate potential hazards from electrical malfunctions with a thorough inventory of your home’s electrical equipment. Repair or replace any appliance that smokes, shorts, overheats or sparks.
Check appliance and extension cords for fraying and loose plugs and prongs. Don’t overload the outlets – there should only be one plug for each one. Remove electric cords from under the rug or cords that cross over nails or pipes or around a heater.
Chemicals
Store flammable liquids such as gasoline and paint lacquer in sealed containers and placed in a well-ventilated area away from the house. If that’s not possible, make sure they’re stored in approved, tested containers – indicated with an official label – and keep them away from open flame, heat sources and gas appliances, and where they’re not accessible to your children.
Combustible liquids such as paint thinner, turpentine, charcoal lighting fluid and kerosene should also be stored away from heat sources. Keep oily cloths in a covered metal container and make it a household rule not to start fires with flammable liquids or use them for cleaning.
Fires
Old mattresses and abandoned furniture are dangerously combustible. Clear out the unused household goods, papers and rags, and move clothes, papers and curtains away from electrical equipment, gas appliances, heaters, candles and flammable materials.
Portable heaters should be placed on a level surface and kept away from high-traffic areas. When you have the option, get one with an automatic shut-off switch. Keep heating equipment and accessories clean and in good repair.
Include the yard in your mission for better home safety. Don’t let grass trimmings, weeds and other debris accumulate near the home, garage or A/C condenser; clear them away regularly.
Finally, make sure your home is equipped with working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and test them regularly.
For more expert advice on home safety and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air, Geothermal and Generators. We’ve been providing quality HVAC services to northwest Arkansas for more than 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Home Safety and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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