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Category Archives: Home safety

Categories Home safety

Avoid Theses Holiday Home Hazards

Holiday

It’s the happiest time of the year and many of us put our joy on display with extravagant holiday decorations.

Between the holiday happiness, family gatherings, and some downtime from the hectic ways of daily life it can be easy to let your guard down.

However, there are quite a few potential hazards that are more common at home during the holidays.

We’re going to give you some insight into the common issues so that you can keep an eye out for and make sure you and your family don’t run into any problems this holiday season.

Overloaded Power Sockets

It’s not uncommon to go a little electricity “crazy” during the holidays. You have lights on the outside of your home, up the bannister and on the tree! Totally normal, but also a potential danger. Power sockets can overheat and send sparks flying or a nasty shock.

Solution: Pull out the extension cords and use them to distribute electricity use across various sources.

Christmas Trees

While an essential part of many families’ holiday celebrations, Christmas trees can be extremely dangerous. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an average of 240 home fires begin with Christmas trees each year.

Additionally, if you have a large tree, you must make sure to invest in a proper tree holder so that it is not unstable; which could lead to an accident with pets or children.

Solution: Keep your tree properly watered, no brown needles and check water level to ensure the tree is “drinking” enough each day. If you go with an artificial tree look for one with a label that says it is fire-resistant.

Decorating

Hanging decorations on the outside of your home or in high places, like over the stairs, look great but can be a hazard. Accidents from falling, strangulation, or choking are all possible.

Solution: Never attempt to put up decorations alone or place ladders in awkward places. If you are unexperienced, it’s a good idea to pay a professional to do the work.

Holiday Plants

This may seem a little extreme, but if you have small children or pets, common holiday plants like Holly and Mistletoe can actually be toxic or a choking hazard.

Solution: If you have little ones in the home stick to larger, artificial plants or switch to other decorations.

Chimney and Fireplace

Apart from giving Santa a clean chimney to slide through, this is a good reminder to get your annual chimney sweep and maintenance. Regular checkups can prevent creosote buildups and potential fires.

Solution: Get your regular maintenance, by a professional, and avoid placing any plants or other decorations near or inside the fireplace. Make sure the flue is open!

We Can help

We hope that these quick tips will help you have a safe and accident-free holiday with your loved ones! If you have any doubts about potential hazards or you want to knock out some yearly home inspection maintenance over the holidays—give us a call!

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Home safety

6 Common Home Hazards and How to Avoid Them

Home Hazards

Taking care of your home is important, of course, but what’s more precious are the loved ones that live there; making our house a home.

Most of us have a common priority, providing a safe home where our family can thrive. Unfortunately, no matter how diligent we are there are always hazards lurking around the corner and even a few smaller ones that you wouldn’t expect.

Today we are going to go over some of the common dangers found in homes and give you some tips on how to avoid any issues with them. Some common home hazards include:

1. Falls

This could entail slipping getting out of the shower or falling down the stairs.

Falls in the home are the leading cause of home injuries.

To minimize risks in your home, you’ll want to stabilize staircases: make sure handrails are steady, fixed to the floor, under sufficient lighting, and have baby gates if there are small children in the home.

Doing things like installing safety rails on showers or bathtubs and placing mats outside of the shower can also prevent injury. Clear stairwells and steps of all debris, toys, etc. and make sure kids have adequate space to store toys.

 

2. Fire Hazards

Reduce the risk of accidental fires by installing fire alarms, never leaving candles or irons unattended and unplugging appliances when finished using. Avoid overloading outlets and regularly check for frayed wires.

You should also have at least one fire extinguisher in your home.

 

3. Choking Hazards

Choking is the U.S.’ fourth leading cause of accidental deaths, and the biggest household hazard for choking comes from small toys. To prevent disaster, regularly inspect your children’s toys for loose parts and use a baby monitor to listen for signs of choking (even if your little one isn’t a baby anymore).

 

4. Poisoning

Cleaning and home maintenance supplies present a huge risk. Proper storage and handling of these chemicals is so important in the home, especially ones with small children.

Medications should be properly stored, and unused or expired pills should be disposed of. Paint and household chemicals should be kept out of reach and never left unattended while in use.

Detergents, especially pods, should be locked away from kids and pets as they pose a huge threat to our little ones.

 

5. Strangling

Cords from blinds or curtains present a common hazard for kids. Never place a crib or bed under a window with a hanging cord. Additionally, trim or tie up hanging cords and secure electrical cords in a way that they can’t be pulled out.

 

6. Drowning

In the last decade drowning deaths in bathtubs have increased by 70%. Thankfully there are some easy steps you can take to prevent these tragedies.

Put buckets away, don’t leave bathing children unattended, and put a gate entrance to your pool or always keep doors leading to pools locked.

Did you find yourself worried while reading this? How many of these hazards have you noticed in your own home? If you found yourself shaking your head in disbelief, don’t worry!

Each of these risks has a simple prevention solution and only requires a little more attention.

If you’re unsure about some hazards in your home, give us a call today! Let us put your mind at ease with a thorough home inspection.

 

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Home safety

6 Ways to Prep Your Pool for Winter

With cooler weather moving in its time to start thinking about how to get your pool ready for winter.

Even though your pool may go unused the next few months, taking the right measures to protect it will be a big help in extending its life and ensuring that it’s ready to go come spring.

Thanks to the generally mild winters in Texas a full winterization of pools is not necessary. These basic tips should be sufficient in protecting your own pool this winter.

1. Balance the Water

Getting started you’ll need to balance the water. The pH balance is important for water clarity as well as the durability of the pool equipment.

A pH level between 7.2 and 7.6 is recommended to maintain a comfortable level for swimmers while remaining sanitized during the winter months.

2. Clean the Pool

This is an important step as it can prevent any damage or surface stains. Don’t get lazy, be sure to remove any leaves or debris because the longer they sit, the more difficult it will be to remove them later on.

3. Clean the Filter

Be sure to clean the filter before closing down for the winter. This will make things easier when you open back up in the spring.

4. Correct the Chemicals

Find the correct chemicals to protect your pool from algae. Algae poses an aesthetic issue, making water appear cloudy, but can also clog your filters and increase the demand for chlorine.

5. Leave Some Water Behind

Leave some water behind, while many think draining your pool completely makes sense for the cold weather it can actually put more strain on the system. The right chemicals (whether its chlorine shock, algaecide, or stain prevention) will protect your pool and keep the water clean and in working order.

6. Choose the Right Cover

Using the right cover will do wonders for your pool! It will keep debris out and keep the pH level balanced.

Pro-Tips to Help Winterize Your Pool

  • Start winterizing at least one week before you plan to close your pool by adding a phosphate remover that will keep any algae issues at bay.
  • Brush and vacuum the pool.
  • Allow the pump to run for a full cycle before backwashing and chemically treating your filter.
  • Install an air pillow to place in the center of the pool.
  • Check the chemical balance monthly to make certain everything is in order.
  • Water should be consistently below 65 degrees before closing down. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself with a pesky algae problem.
  • Shock the pool 4-7 days before closing and then add the algaecide when you plan to cover the pool. Doing both on the same day can cancel out the strength of the algaecide.

We Can Help

Have you started to winterize your own pool? We hope these tips will be helpful in ensuring a smooth transition to the winter months.

If you have some doubts about your pool’s integrity, schedule an inspection with us.

You can read one of our older posts to get the gist of a pool inspection.

We’re here for you!

Get in touch with us, and we’ll be out to inspect within 48 hours, guaranteed!

 

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Home safety

Make Your Home Safe

Home Safe

You spend a lot of time searching for the right home and then even more time negotiating deals.

Why wouldn’t you go the extra mile to make sure your home is safe for you and any person who will be in it?

Putting together a healthy home goes way beyond signing a lease or mortgage; the real work comes once you’ve moved in.

Studies have shown that most accidents or injuries occur within the home and with the right preventative measures you can ensure that you or a loved one don’t become another statistic.

If you’re ready to make sure your house is a safe environment, check out our list of must-haves for your home!

1. Fire Extinguisher

The CDC reported that cooking is the primary cause of residential fires. Save yourself the stress of a basic hazard like a kitchen fire by investing and maintaining your fire extinguisher.

Important note: There are a variety of fire extinguishers including Class A is for cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and plastic; Class B is for flammable liquids; Class C is for electrical appliances; Class D is for flammable metals; and Class K is for fires involving vegetable oil or other fats in kitchen appliances.

2. Smoke Detectors

The facts here are alarming; the U.S. Fire Administration reported that two-thirds of fire deaths were in places that didn’t have functioning smoke detectors.

Maintaining the smoke detectors are just as important as installing them, check the batteries at least once a month to ensure they are in good working order.

3. Contact List

Organize and keep in an easily accessible place, like on the fridge or table near the phone, with a list of emergency contact info, doctor contact, and even your personal information like health insurance and medication list. Here’s a great example of one.

4. Non-toxic Houseplants

If you have pets, this is essential. While plants can be beneficial to the home, like improving air quality, if you have a furry friend some plants like Aloe Vera, Geranium, or Daffodils could be dangerous.

5. Disaster Kit

Depending on where you live this could be a bag ready to go if there’s a hurricane, wildfire, earthquake or even just cut electricity.

You want to include water, at least three days’ worth of non-perishable food, first aid equipment, a flashlight, cash, and copies of important documents.

6. CO Detector

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas making it extremely difficult to detect and a huge threat to any home.

Fireplaces, grills, or even cars in a garage are all proponents of CO. Installing a CO monitor as well as proper maintenance of appliances will ensure your home is safe from this hazard.

Don’t let these items scare you, but rather use them as a precautionary list that can help you mold a safe and healthy home for your loved ones.

If you have any doubts about other safety concerns in your home such as air quality, foundation, or structural faults get in touch with us today!

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
Categories Home safety

Clean Your Home Like a Pro

Clean

We’ve talked about the benefits of prepping your home, whether you’re trying to sell or just getting ready for winter, taking preventative measures and maintaining small things year round will save you big in the long run.

Keeping a perfectly ordered home is nearly impossible, especially if you have pets or children.

However, there are some practical and easy measures you can take to prevent the need for a deep cleaning down the road.

Getting Started

First, define your mission. Are you clearing clutter or cleaning? Contrary to popular belief, they’re not the same and often when we attempt to clean we end up decluttering, which can only tack on unnecessary work to our mission.

Once you decide on your objective, stick to it. It’s a good idea to declutter a day or two before you intend on cleaning.

Sort through the things you want to sell or donate and actually make moves. Don’t let bags of clothes or household goods sit in your hallway for the next four months.

Before you get started with the cleaning, go through the house with a trash bag or basket to round up any random objects that are misplaced.

Along the way keep an eye out for any stray dishes, forks, cups, etc. that haven’t made their way back to the kitchen.

Pro-tip: This would be an excellent job for your kids if you’re interested in putting them to work.

A Pro’s Plan for Cleaning Your Home

1. Hit the Bathrooms First

Clear out everything from the tubs and showers and spray them down to let them soak while you tackle the other parts of the house.

2. Ceilings and Walls Top to Bottom

Time to get rid of those dust bunnies and cobwebs—don’t skip light fixtures and fan blades! The great thing about this task is that it doesn’t require any special supplies. Attach an old T-shirt or cloth to a broomstick and use that to dust.

3. Back to the Bathrooms

Once you’re finished dusting it’s time to get back to the bathroom and polish fixtures, scrub the sink, and empty any wastebaskets. Finally, finish with the floors; nothing fancy here, use a Swiffer or rag to make your floor look like new.

4. Furniture

Remove all items from shelves and tables and dust off with a paper towel before using a wood polisher or wax to take care of your furniture.

Don’t use the same cloth or rag for your knickknacks as you do on the furniture. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with oily/sticky figurines. Use a small vacuum for upholstered furniture weekly.

5. Check Windows

Take care of any smudges or fingerprints along windows and mirrors to give yourself a break from the all that dust you’ve picked up.

6. Kitchen Time

First, load the dishwasher to make space for the real work. Take care of countertops, appliances, and the fronts of cabinets.

7. Finish with the Floors

Once you’ve taken care of everything above you’re ready to vacuum carpets and clean hard surface floors.

While this list may seem overwhelming the more often you do it, the less time and work it will take in the future. Maintaining a clean home can preserve the integrity and structure of your home.

What are your pro cleaning tips? Let us know!

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Garrett HandAuthor Garrett Hand
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