If you’re a homeowner, you want to make sure that your house and the people in it are as safe as possible. You might worry about intruders, fires, or even harmful carbon monoxide leaks. While nothing is 100% foolproof, you can take measures to ensure that your home is as safe as possible so that you feel comfortable no matter what comes your way.
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Invest in a Smoke Detector
You’ll actually want multiple smoke detectors in your home. Typically, one in each room of the house and in a hallway is sufficient. It’s important to test them regularly and to make sure they work so that if they are ever needed for a fire, you know they will do their job to wake everyone in the house. There are some models that are hardwired into the home while others are just run by batteries. Smoke detectors go in the high points of each room because hot air and smoke rise.
Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas associated with burning fuel. It has no taste or smell, so it’s easy to be exposed to it without knowing it. Natural gas for instance has a scent added to it so that people can more easily detect if there is a leak, but there is no way to make CO become scented. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal because it prevents the body from taking oxygen to the cells as it should. These detectors are usually put in a home that has a wood-burning stove, natural gas, or propane. There are plenty of ways to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning, but the easiest is to install detectors near the floor of your home.
Install Lights Outside
There are many different security lights you can put on or around your home. But basically, you want to illuminate the exterior so that potential intruders don’t have dark shadows to hide in. These lights can go on your house, they can be spotlight style, or they can provide lighting for walkways and paths. Adding different forms of lighting to your house can not only make it look great, but it can also help keep you and your family safer.
Get a Home Security System
With the invention of technology like the Ring doorbell and other video tools, it’s easier than ever before to make your home more secure and to get alerts when something is happening that you should be concerned about. A home security system is an investment that can protect you and your family. Look for a system that you can afford and that is easy to maintain. You’ll want alarms on doors and windows, and maybe even a system that calls the police if the alarm goes off for too long.
Replace Old or Faulty Appliances
It’s important to replace old appliances that are not working properly. For example, if your furnace has a crack in it, it could leak carbon monoxide into your home. If the windows in your house do not lock or have broken screens, this could put you at risk for theft and burglary. If you have an oven with a broken coil, it could pose a fire hazard. It’s best to replace these faulty appliances if they cannot be repaired so that you can protect your family from potential fire and other hazards.
Invest in a Good Fire Extinguisher
Being prepared for an emergency means having the right tools around for the job. A good fire extinguisher can literally save your life in a fire. Make sure you have one on each floor of your home and that you can get to it quickly. Many people keep one in the kitchen and one in a hallway upstairs so that it won’t get lost. They should be inspected periodically by your fire department to ensure that they still work as needed.
Conclusion
It’s possible to keep your home safe for you and your family. With good lighting outside you can deter any would-be burglars from trying to come into your home. By having a security system in place you can rest assured that the police will be called even when you aren’t home. And by having carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in place you will have the peace of mind to ensure that if anything happens while you’re sleeping that you will get an alert in time to get to safety.
