The upcoming spring cleaning season is the perfect time to give your living areas a thorough home safety inspection. The following checklist will help you know where to look and what to look for as you take the steps to make your home a safer and more comfortable space.
- Check electrical cords. Inspect electrical cords on appliances and devices for damage, including frayed or cracked insulation. If you can see wiring under the insulation, the cord is unsafe to use. Make sure cords, including extension cords, do not extend under rugs or carpets or over any heaters or other devices that could cause the insulation to melt.
- Leave on some lights. Turn on some indoor lights to help deter potential thieves or intruders. If you can put some of these lights on timers to simulate people leaving and entering the rooms, it will look even more like someone is home. Make sure driveways, entrance doors, patios, and other entry areas have good lighting.
- Take care of chemical hazards. Make sure that any chemicals, such as cleaners, paints, solvents, varnishes, or insecticides, are stored in tightly-sealed containers and kept away from areas where they could be accessed by children or pets. If possible, store these kinds of materials outside your home.
- Remove fire hazards. Don’t let dirty or oily rags pile up; they could combust and start a fire on their own. Keep flammable materials such as paints or solvents away from open flames and out of areas where they could be exposed to fire. Avoid letting combustible material such as paper, clothing, or cardboard pile up in your home.
- Check and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Take the time to test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. These safety devices could be life-saving. Put in fresh batteries and replace any units that are damaged or malfunctioning.
Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company is a premier source of heating, cooling, and electric services in Yuma and the surrounding areas. Contact us today for more information on home safety and what you can do to make your home safer.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona 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 Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
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