Keeping you and your family safe in your home is at the top of most homeowners maintenance lists. Our Home Safety Checklist will give you a comprehensive list of maintenance items you should be doing on a regular basis, but here are a few of the items on the list that should never be overlooked when it comes to keeping your home and your family safe.

keeping you and your family safe in your home

We recently put together a Fall Maintenance Guide, to help you prep your home for the cooler months ahead. We are hopeful that by this time you have completed most of these steps. If you haven't...it's not too late, but the following should be at the top of your to-do list when considering your family's safety and comfort regardless of the season.

Trim Dead Tree Limbs

Dead tree limbs are more likely to fall during winter storms under the weight of ice and snow. Winter is the best time to prune trees and bushes for the health of the plants, but getting rid of the dead larger limbs can be done at any time. Be sure to get the limbs that extend into your neighbors yards as well. Large tree limbs can do tons of damage to you and your neighbors home and also can be dangerous for those living in the home. 

Maintain Your Fireplace or Wood Stove & Chimney

Before the weather turns colder — have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned before you start using it. Fire safety experts recommend that you have your chimney inspected annually and cleaned periodically. Chimney fires are the cause of over 21,000 house fires a year

• Improper venting from a blockage in your flue can cause smoke and carbon monoxide to enter into your home.

• Creosote buildup from years of use can cause a fire in your chimney 

Have Your HVAC System Checked & Maintained

The last thing you want on a frigid winter day is your heating system to break down. Have it serviced and checked to make sure it's running smoothly. And...don't forget to change the filter, this will insure that the best possible indoor air quality in your home once you close up the windows and doors to the colder exterior climate.

Check Your Sump Pump Care & Make Sure You Have a Backup

If you have a sump pump this means you have the potential to have water Infiltration in your basement. If your sump pump cycles many times during the day - then you have the potential to have lots of water in your basement. It's a good idea to inspect your sump pump on a regular basis to make sure that the float switch is not stuck. Make sure you have a backup system as well that will keep the pump running in the event of a power outage or will remove the water in case of failure of your primary sump pump.

Check Your Safety Devices

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries one a year. Replace detectors every 10 years.

• Check expiration date on your fire extinguisher. Replace if necessary and keep it in an accessible location.

• If you have a home generator be sure to follow the yearly maintenance procedure to ensure it will work when you need it.

Maintain Your Washer and Dryer

When was the last time you cleaned your dryer vents? If you can't remember, then it's probably time to do it. This usually can be a DIY job depending upon the configuration and location of your dryer vents, but it's also a good idea to periodically hire a professional to clean and check your dryer vents and your washing machine hoses. Clean dryer vents and washing machine hoses will help your machines work more efficiently and reduce the risk of a fire or water damage from leaks.

Keeping your home your family safe and comfortable therein means taking the steps to care for your investment. And if it's time to make some changes to make your home beyond the normal maintenance - please give us a call at 734-332-1500 or fill out our contact form. We'd love to discuss how we can help you make your home the perfect safe and comfortable refuge for your family.