LiveMARYLAND: April Homeownership Tips - Safety In Your Home and What You May Not Know (But Should)

“Home Safety”– you might instantly think about a security system, but what about your Home Health?

Think about it:  it's estimated we spend 87% of our lives indoors, whether at home, work, or traveling.  

One study showed we spent nearly 10 hours a day at home in 2020, and a little less than 8 hours in 2019.  With the way in which the workforce adapted, we're spending more time at home than ever before — and it's important that we think about our health and safety at home.  

Here are a few things to consider to help keep your family and your home SAFE:  

• Smoke Detectors — you should replace these every 10 years. Are they yellow? Replace. Don't know how old they are? Replace. Do they have a 9-volt battery? Replace. You should also have one outside every sleeping area (one inside every bedroom is safer), and one on every floor.

• Carbon Monoxide Detectors — Don't forget about these. You can even get smoke detectors that have combined CO detectors. As with smoke detectors, your CO detectors should have a sealed, 10-year lithium ion battery.

• Radon Test & Remediation — Did you know that radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing all homes for radon every 5 to 10 years, and fixing homes if their levels are higher than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L).

• Dryer Vent Cleaning — not only will this increase efficiency, but it can also save your life! Studies show that over 15,000 fires are caused by clogged dryer vents every year!

• Fireplace/Chimney - yes, even gas fireplaces! - Have all flues and chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional annually, and inspect your wood-burning stoves twice monthly during use to make sure the door latches properly.

• Water Heaters - Inspect water heaters annually. The temperature should be set at no higher than 120 degrees to prevent burns. Never leave children alone near a water heater, and keep combustible and flammable materials well away from it.

• Street Number - Make sure your house number is visible from the street annually. It should be easily spotted, in case an emergency vehicle needs to look for it.

• Appliances, tall furniture, and TV’s - 71 children are injured or killed every day by tipping furniture at home. If you have children in your home or children that visit, check yours annually to be sure they are safely mounted to the wall.

Your safety, and the safety of those you care about, is one of our top priorities. If you, or someone you know, could use a copy of our Home Service Providers Directory to help with this checklist, please reach out - we’d be happy to put one in the mail!

The McIntyre Team of Keller Williams Integrity

Direct: (443) 870-4268 | (443) 574-1600