Just how safe is your home? While modern homes often have to be built to strict safety standards, there are still many additional measures worth taking to protect our family and belongings. Below are a few overlooked home safety improvements that could be worth considering.
Install a carbon monoxide detector
You likely have a smoke alarm. But do you have a carbon monoxide detector? Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible – and also highly toxic. Many deaths occur each year as a result of carbon monoxide leaks in homes. A carbon monoxide detector is the best way to warn you if there is a leak. Such monitors are battery-operated and can be bought cheaply online.
Switch to electric heating/cooking
A growing number of homeowners are switching to electric heating and cooking. Not only is it more environmentally-friendly than using gas, but it’s also safer. Gas leaks can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or house fires. Switching to electric heating and cooking gets rid of these risks, because there’s no gas involved. If you’ve got an old gas boiler or gas oven and it’s due a replacement, consider looking into electric heat pumps and electric ovens.
Use non-slip rugs/mats
When placing rugs and mats on hard floors, it’s worth selecting rugs and mats that have non-slip backing. This is particularly important if you have someone older with mobility issues living in your home – many fall injuries experienced by people over 65 are the result of slipping on a rug or mat. Non-slip rugs can also be worth owning if you have kids, plus they can also protect dogs’ joints.
Replace old electrical wiring
Rewiring a home may not be cheap, but it’s worthwhile if you have wiring over 50 years old. On top of causing annoying electrical problems, old wiring can put you at an increased risk of experiencing a house fire. Signs that your wiring may be old and in need of replacement include flickering lights, frequent circuit breaker trips or buzzing noises from outlets. An electrician will be able to assess your home’s wiring and help you determine whether rewiring is needed.Â
Secure wardrobes against the wall
If you have kids or pets, you should consider whether you have any tall heavy furniture and whether it is attached to the wall. Unsecured wardrobes and cupboards have been known to fall on top of kids and pets, causing serious injuries. Some furniture may come with wall brackets allowing you to attach it to the wall as you’re assembling it. If not it’s possible to buy anti-tip straps online that can be easily fitted to any type of furniture.
Use covers on outlets
This one could be worth considering if you have young kids. Many electrical shock injuries experienced by young kids are the result of poking toys and even fingers into outlets (yes, babies’ fingers are that small!). By using outlet covers on exposed outlets, you can easily prevent this from happening. Such covers are very cheap to buy and can be bought in packs, allowing you to cover multiple outlets.
Buy an air purifier
Indoor air can often be full of pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet hair, mold, VOCs, bacteria and viruses. Breathing in these pollutants can make us sick or lead to respiratory issues. While keeping your home well-ventilated can help remove many of these pollutants, an even more effective measure that you can take is to use an air purifier. This helps remove contaminants from the air by sucking in the air from a room and passing it through a filter. Types of air purifiers include HEPA purifiers, UV purifiers and ionic purifiers.Â
Upgrade old stair railings
Stairs should ideally come with railings or handrails on either side to reduce fall injuries. It’s important that these railings are well-maintained so that they offer a good amount of support. If you can feel some movement in your railings or they look damaged, it could be time to consider installing new railings. There are companies that specialize in residential railings. Commercial railing systems could be worth looking into for an apartment block if you are the owner of the block.Â
Block off pest entrances
Allowing pests into your home could be a serious health hazard. Pests like rodents can contaminate food and chew through wiring. One of the best ways to deter pests is to make sure that there are no cracks or fissures in your walls that pests can crawl through. Some cracks can be easily sealed up using caulk. If you have gaps under external doors, it could meanwhile be worth installing brush strips to the bottom to stop pests crawling underneath (this can also help keep out drafts). Bug screens are meanwhile possible to install over windows to prevent insects getting in while they are open.
Remove asbestos
Asbestos was commonly used as an insulation and fire-proofing material until a few decades ago. Nowadays, it’s rarely used anymore due to its carcinogenic properties – breathing in asbestos dust can lead to a deadly lung cancer known as mesothelioma. A lot of older homes still contain asbestos in the walls. While asbestos is not really dangerous unless disturbed, it is still worth removing in case you need to do some DIY (drilling a hole in a wall containing asbestos could be enough to put harmful dust into the air). There are specialist asbestos removal companies that can get rid of this material for you.
Remove lead paint
Another harmful substance commonly found in older homes is lead paint. If you have young kids or pets, and there is lead paint in your home, it is worth getting this paint removed as flecks of paint can be toxic if ingested. Lead paint test kits can be bought to determine whether paint in your home contains lead. As with asbestos removal, there are companies that specialize in lead paint removal that you can hire.
Upgrade the locks
Security is an important aspect of home safety that shouldn’t be overlooked. To keep out intruders, it’s worth first considering the quality of the locks on your doors. If you have old locks on your external doors – such as spring locks or warded locks – it could be worth getting these replaced with newer locks, as these locks can be quite weak. Deadbolt locks are much more secure. Consider also fitting window locks if you haven’t got them already.
Video doorbell
Video doorbells are another home security improvement worth looking into. These doorbells allow you to see who is outside your home using an app on your phone. You can also communicate through them using your voice and they can reply through them. They essentially work as intercoms and security cameras all in one. There are several brands of video doorbell that you can choose from.
Security lighting
Burglars are most likely to target homes at night that have no exterior lighting. Getting security lighting installed could therefore reduce the risk of your property being a target. This lighting is typically motion-sensing so it will only turn on when someone is walking around the outside of your property. This can help you to save energy compared to permanent lightig.
Consider a hard pool cover
If you have a pool in your backyard, you should consider whether a pool cover is worth installing. Pool covers can help prevent leaves and debris from falling into your pool when not in use, which can help reduce pool maintenance. They can also be a good safety feature – young kids or pets cannot fall into your pool when not in use. Hard pool covers are generally better than soft pool covers.
Invest in a heated driveway
A lot of people living in colder climates injure themselves in winter by slipping on icy driveways.While covering your driveway in grit can help to prevent ice build-up, there is another solution: a heated driveway. This involves installing underfloor heating underneath, which then melts the ice. The water can then be directed away from your driveway into a drain.
Remove precarious trees
Are there trees on your property that look like they are about to collapse? While you should try to preserve trees where possible. Old and damaged trees could be a safety hazard and ought to be removed. To determine whether a tree should be removed, it is worth hiring an arborist to take a look at your tree and then determine whether it is a danger. Make sure to hire professionals when removing a relatively large tree.
Conclusion
As you can see above, there are a lot of ways in which you can make a home safer – but of course this is only a handful of safety improvements that are possible. A home inspector may be able to suggest more measures that you can take. This could be worthwhile in an older home where there are likely to be more potential hazards such as structural issues. Overall, if you have a bad feeling about something in your home, get it checked.
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