Home safety is crucial and one of a new homeowner’s primary concerns. A safe home guarantees your and your loved ones’ security and gives you peace of mind. Ensuring home safety might seem overwhelming and challenging. However, it’s achievable and you have many options for securing your property. This post discusses seven home safety tips for new homeowners.
Get the right panel board
Quality panel boards or electrical panels are crucial for electrical systems, which contain fuses or circuit breakers that safeguard your property against electrical fires. A panel board is the primary distribution point of your home’s electrical circuits. It gets power from the local utility grid and then distributes it around your home. Home panel boards consist of the central breaker panel with the primary switch controlling all your switches.
The right electrical panel for your home should have adequate amperage that matches your energy requirements. This will ensure your electrical system runs safely and efficiently. Picking a panel board with an amperage lower than your household’s requirements can damage your electrical devices and system. While panel boards have a long life span, regular maintenance can help ascertain their smooth and safe operation.
Protect against electrical fires
A 2021 report indicates that around 24,200 residential property electrical fires were reported. The fires caused approximately 900 injuries, 95 deaths, and more than $1.2 billion in property loss. Protecting your home against electrical fires is an excellent way to ensure safety. Getting an electrical inspection done in your house will get you informed of any potential fire risks or outstanding electrical concerns. Use GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets to safeguard your home against electrical ground faults, overheating, and fires.
Avoid overloading your outlets and ensure flammable materials are kept away from outlets. Inspect your wiring or codes for ripping or fraying signs; if damaged, replace them immediately. This is because when damaged, they overheat quickly, increasing fire risk. Unplugging devices when not in use and paying attention to any unusual electrical activity signs like a buzzing sound from an outlet or flickering lights can help keep your home safe.
Install a home security system
Home security systems are an excellent way to protect your property and its occupants from intrusion and burglary. They deter burglars from breaking into your property. A home security system also detects carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke, fire, and water damage. Installing this system gives you the peace of mind that your property is protected regardless of whether you’re present or not. A home security system will be useless if nobody monitors it. While you can monitor it yourself, professional monitoring is the best option for home safety.
A sound home security system should have security cameras, wireless technology, a redundant power supply, and home automation. It should also have a motion sensor, smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and glass break detector. If you have a senior at home, look for a wellness alert feature in your system. A functional security system should have a recording capability to help monitor your home surroundings.
Secure your front door
Securing the front door can help increase home safety. If the door isn’t strong enough, consider replacing it with a studier one (made from steel or solid wood) so intruders and burglars can’t kick in or break easily. Replace the deadbolt if it’s not sturdy enough, and upgrade your strike plate to maximize the lock’s protection. Secure your door hinges and reinforce the doorframe to prevent it from warping, splitting, or twisting under pressure.
If there’s glass on the door, strengthen it to increase security. You can add an extra security layer by installing a security bar or door barricade. You may also get a smart door lock for your home, which offers more protection than a traditional lock.
Learn how to shut off electricity and water
Once you move to your new home, find the circuit breakers and learn how to shut them off when there’s an issue with your electrical system. Locate the primary water shut-off valve and know how to shut it off. This comes in handy when you have burst pipes or plumbing issues, preventing water damage.
Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors send an early danger notification and are crucial to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning and fatal house fires. For these detectors to do their job effectively, they should work correctly. So, once you should shift into your new home, test them to ensure they’re operational. To ensure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors function well, do a sound test by pressing the test button until a piercing alarm is heard. Since this isn’t enough proof that they’re working as they should, conduct a canned smoke test next to determine if they can detect it correctly.
Holding the canned smoke a few feet from your detectors, spray them for seconds and wait for the alarm. If no sound comes out, repeat the test. If the alarm doesn’t sound, it could be malfunctioning. Lastly, visually inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detector by checking its expiry date and debris in the device. You should also see if the batteries are still functioning. Once you ascertain that all is well, check your detectors regularly to ensure they are working because they might fail due to power surges, faulty batteries, or electronic malfunction.
Invest in landscape lighting
Landscape lighting is a cost-effective way of increasing home security. With an outdoor lighting system, you can illuminate all your property’s entry and exit points, potential hiding spots, and dark areas, keeping away burglars and intruders and preventing tripping hazards. It’s also an excellent way to give an illusion that you’re home even when you’re not. To avoid trips and falls, install deck lights for entertainment area illumination and place them on rails to subtly illuminate outdoor staircases.
You can also use LED step lighting to indicate elevation changes and guide your guests. Installing path lights is an excellent way to avoid obstacles along your paths, such as concealed cracks and raised roots. Proper outdoor lighting can also help keep away wildlife, ensuring your loved one’s safety.
Endnote
Home safety is a significant concern for most new homeowners. Nonetheless, implementing these tips can help boost your home safety, giving you peace of mind.
