Getting your home ready for winter means more than switching out screens for storm windows and making sure the doors and windows are weather-stripped. Taking time to give your home a winter tune-up can do more than just make your home cozier — it could save the lives of you and your family.
Each year, thousands of homes — and many lives — are lost to fires that could be prevented with an annual review. Here are some good ways to make sure your home will be safe as well as cozy this winter:
Start in the laundry room. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that clothes dryers are responsible for some 15,000 fires annually. Make sure you have your dryer vent professionally cleaned every year, as that’s the most likely place for a fire to start.
Look for the leaks. Natural gas can be a blessing, particularly when electrical outages occur. But it can also be deadly if there’s a leak or if a line is damaged. Have your natural gas system professionally inspected (contact a licensed home inspector or a plumber) for leaks, faulty pilot lights, leaking valves, or loose fittings.
Check your electricity. According to the National Fire Protection Association, some 51,000 homes — and nearly 500 lives — are lost to electrical structure fires every year. Prevention is easy, and a worthy investment: for about $300, you can hire a licensed electrician to inspect your wiring.
Winter home tune-up musts
Getting your home ready for winter means more than switching out screens for storm windows and making sure the doors and windows are weather-stripped. Taking time to give your home a winter tune-up can do more than just make your home cozier — it could save the lives of you and your family.
Each year, thousands of homes — and many lives — are lost to fires that could be prevented with an annual review. Here are some good ways to make sure your home will be safe as well as cozy this winter: