It’s time for a Fall Home Safety Check

Fall is the perfect time of year for homeowners to focus on specific tasks related to changing weather, seasonal maintenance and some indoor and outdoor fall home activities. It’s also the ideal time of year for a fall home safety check. Safeguard yourself, and your family from disasters, injuries and unpleasant financial situations when you prioritize a safety check and protect your home.

What safety means to your family, and your home can vary, and the tasks you perform during your safety check can range from home security to weatherproofing your home. Making your home safer can be done through a combo of preventative measures and adding safety features.

A little bit of regular maintenance goes a long way towards your home’s safety. Check and maintain your home appliances, electrical wiring, and plumbing to prevent hazards like fires and water damage.

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and make sure the batteries are working in each. Place them on every floor of your home and in key areas like near bedrooms and the kitchen. It’s also worth having your own residential fire extinguisher as part of your safety checklist. Keep fire extinguishers in the parts of your home most likely to need them, such as the kitchen and garage, and ensure everyone in your family knows how to use them. Homeowners should review emergency supplies, such as flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food items, in preparation for potential winter storms or power outages.

A final note on emergency preparedness is to have a first aid kit readily available. If you don’t yet have one, create an emergency plan with evacuation routes and meeting points for your family. Though you’re likely to never need them, being prepared never hurts.

Secure your fall home doors and windows. Between break-ins, high winds, or neighbourhood kids playing baseball, the windows and doors can sometimes take a beating. Use sturdy locks and consider installing deadbolts to make your house harder to enter without a key. You can also reinforce glass on windows and glass doors, especially in vulnerable areas for added home safety protection.

Indoor home safety

Install handrails and grab bars, particularly in bathrooms and staircases to assist with balance and mobility, especially for elderly or disabled family members.

Home safety also means protecting yourself and your family when the weather cools. Inspect and prepare your heating systems - scheduling HVAC maintenance, changing air filters, and ensuring proper insulation are three ways you can make sure your safety check includes a winter-ready home.

As temperatures drop, pests may seek shelter indoors. From rats or mice, to larger pests like squirrels and raccoons, or smaller pests, like insects, pest-proofing your homes and taking preventive measures is a lot less expensive than calling an exterminator or wildlife removal company.

Consider installing a security system as part of your fall home safety check. Protecting one's home and family from burglary, theft, or other security threats is a top priority for many homeowners. Security systems with cameras, alarms, and monitoring services can help deter burglars and alert you to potential threats.

Get outside for your fall home safety check

A fall home cleanup is an essential part of your safety check. Trim overgrown vegetation, repair uneven pathways, and secure outdoor equipment such as trampolines and swing sets to prevent accidents. You should also clean your gutters, rake leaves, winterize your outdoor faucets, and store your outdoor furniture to prevent disasters like trips, falls, and even leaks and floods.

Avoid trips and falls by clearing pathways around your home. Remove clutter and obstacles from both interior and exterior walkways to prevent tripping hazards. Home safety is always a bright idea. Ensure that all areas of your home, including hallways, staircases, and the outdoor areas, especially near your exits, are well-lit to prevent accidents.

Protect your home. Protect your family

Review your Insurance Coverage and Liability. Understanding insurance policies and ensuring adequate coverage for various risks can be a source of anxiety for homeowners. Concerns may include the cost of premiums, coverage limits, exclusions, and liability protection in case of accidents or injuries on the property. Ensuring you have the appropriate coverage is another step to being proactive with your fall home safety checks.

If you have young children at home, or pets, fall is a good time to confirm your fall home’s childproofing. You can do this by checking or installing safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs, covering your electrical outlets, ensuring your kitchen cutlery and other electrical kitchen appliances are stores out of reach, and by securing heavy furniture to the walls to prevent tipping. Store hazardous materials such as cleaning products and medications out of reach of children and pets. You should also secure your rugs and carpets by using non-slip mats or rug grips to prevent slipping accidents, which can happen to children and adults alike.

Whether it's due to natural disasters like storms or floods, accidents, or wear and tear over time, the potential for property damage is a common worry for homeowners. This encompasses concerns about structural damage, water damage, fire damage, and vandalism. It emphasizes the importance of fall home safety checks (or ensuring this is done at least once a year if fall is not a good time for you) for all homeowners. To see what’s new in the way of home security, upgrade your lighting, or to hire a professional for that project that’s just a bit too big to tackle yourself, visit a nearby show and meet with a local expert about your home’s safety.