Fall: Prepare Your Home for the Cooler Days Ahead
The seasonal transition from the summer heat to fall and cooler temperatures is here.
Ensure you're prepared for the cooler days ahead with these tips:
- - Have your furnace cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified technician.
- - Clean and/or replace your furnace filter.
- - Keep flammable materials, including all lawn and power equipment, away from water heaters and wiring in the basement.
- - Insulate water pipes in areas exposed to cold temperatures, and turn up the thermostat during extra cold periods.
- - Check for damage to your roof, and clean gutters and downspouts to keep debris from accumulating. This is especially important during the fall season to keep leaves from building up in gutters.
- - Check and repair caulking around doors, windows, showers, bathtubs, sinks, and toilets that show signs of deterioration.
- - Have your chimney cleaned and maintained annually by a professional.
- - Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust, and pieces of material.
- - Check your electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.
- - Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher accessible, filled and ready for operation.
- Inspect your smoke detectors. Make sure there is one on each floor of your home. Test them monthly, and change the battery annually or as needed.
Heating
- - It's tempting to use supplemental heating devices (such as electrical or kerosene heaters) during the winter. If they must be used, keep them away from flammable materials and surfaces that can ignite from prolonged dry heat. Do not store additional fuel in the same room.
- - Inspect underground fuel tanks.
General Security
- - All exterior doors should have deadbolt locks.
- - A heat and smoke detector should be on every floor. It's recommended that detectors be powered by an electrical source with a battery backup. Check heat and smoke detector batteries every 3 months.
- - A fire extinguisher should be located in the kitchen and near the furnace. Household members should be taught to use a fire extinguisher.
- - Motion sensitive outdoor lighting is suggested for added safety and security. If it's affordable, central station burglar and fire alarms are another security alternative.
- - Neighborhood watch groups are also suggested.
- - Do not hide a spare key outside your premises.
Liability
- - Keep walkways, stairs and sidewalks free of obstacles.
- - Shovel snow as soon as possible and use salt/sand substances to reduce ice formation.
- - Keep stairs, porches, stoops and their rails in good repair.
- - Maintain and use outdoor lighting.
- - If you own a dog, you should enroll it in Canine Good Citizenship classes offered by the American Kennel Club. The dog does not have to be a pedigree to attend.
Source for this article: Insurance Information Institute; www.iii.org
