Home Safety Check
Posted on April 26, 2010
American Van Lines is the moving company Charlotte residents have come to know and love. We’re dedicated to helping new residents better adjust to their environment by providing useful moving tips as well as quality moving services. Our Charlotte movers would like nothing more than for you to be safe and enjoy your new home so it is important that you review your new home with safety in mind. It is only natural that when we think of home safety that we think of children, but adults are susceptible to household hazards just as children are. The best thing to do after your Charlotte movers have completed your relocation services is to check each room in your home for potentially dangerous situations.
Check out doors also for any hidden dangers in your yard. Make sure that your walkways and stairwells are well lit to avoid any accidental falls. Make sure that all walkways remain clear of toys, gardening tools and that garden hoses are properly wound up and not laid out in the yard. Houseplants should be researched to find out if they are poisonous or if anyone in your household is allergic to them.
Wooden surfaces such as decks and play sets should be tested for the kinds of treatments used to prevent rot because some wooden decks and support beams are treated with arsenic, which can be potentially dangerous to humans and pets. Keep gas barbecue grills clean to avoid any clogs or attracting any type of wild life. The flex lines that attach the grill to the gas line should be checked before every use for cracks and tears that can usually happen during the winter time, because these may cause a potentially dangerous leak.
Your lawn can be another potentially hazardous area that should be maintained to prevent injury. Lawns should be raked before mowing to remove any hard objects that could become projectiles when mowing. Once you have checked the outside of your home for hidden dangers it’s finally time to do a safety check indoors.
Your laundry room is a good place to start your inspection. The first thing to consider is your dryer vent. Most dryers have a screen cover that is made to keep lint from building up in your dryer, but if left unchecked the heat from your dryer could ignite the lint and become a serious fire hazard that you would not even notice until it is too late. Your dryer vent should be checked and cleaned at least once a year using a vacuum cleaner attachment or you can call a qualified professional. While the dryer is operating, you should try to avoid sleeping or leaving the house.
Trying to keep warm during the winter months can present hidden dangers in your home as well. Fireplaces are a common danger if not properly maintained. Chimneys should be swept clean to avoid igniting any soot or wood debris that can release air born sparks. Avoid leaving carpeting or linens near fireplaces.
Find out the type of paint used in your new home. Older houses were usually painted with lead based paint that can be hazardous even if not consumed. The paint can be inhaled as it begins to wear away. Some of the most hazardous and also most commonly used household items contain dangerous chemicals. Some chemicals to look out for are acetones which can be found in nail polish remover and most heavy duty cleaning fluids, aerosol chemicals can be found in air fresheners and deodorants which are harmless on the skin but can be hazardous if inhaled.
If you keep up with these common household dangers you may be able to avoid potentially hazardous situations that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
