Safety at Home: Here Are the Top Danger Zones

Home Sweet Home can harbor many dangers that are easy to put off fixing or overlook altogether. Take time to secure your home inside and out to prevent the following top home danger zones from impacting your family’s safety and security.

Insufficient fire protection

Buying a bunch of smoke detectors isn’t enough…you actually have to install and maintain them. Both steps are easy with contemporary models, some of which allow battery power status to be checked by remote.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning

HVAC systems, autos and outdoor machinery can be sources of this odorless, colorless, deadly gas. For you and your family’s safety, make sure to install carbon monoxide detectors (also available in smoke-CO detector combinations) throughout your home to alert you of any CO present.  Also, remember to never run your car or any other fuel-burning machines in even a partially closed garage.

Bathroom dangers

Family members of all ages are at risk for slips and falls in slick tubs and showers and on slippery bathroom floors, making the bathroom a formidable danger zone. Install grab bars in strategic locations around the space, and roll out non-slip area rugs over tile and vinyl flooring. Also make sure that small children are attended at all times while bathing and keep toilet lids closed, as little ones can drown in just a few inches of water.

Clogged dryer exhaust duct

Every year an average of 14,500 dryers catch fire and are responsible for up to ten deaths, not because of wiring problems, but because of the lint that collects in the dryer’s exhaust ducts. Keep the laundry area safe by doing an annual or bi-annual cleaning of the duct. Use a tool made for the purpose, which snakes a rotary brush through the line and attaches to the chuck of a cordless drill on one end for easy operation.

Unsteady stairs

Keep stairways clear of toys and other items that could be tripped over, and make sure banisters are secure and easy to grip. To eliminate a potential home hazard zone, install handrails on both sides of the stairs at approximately 34 inches above the nose of the steps.

Unsecured storage for medications and chemicals

Inquisitive youngsters and family pets can find dangerous substances in a flash, so don’t take chances with this danger zone. For their safety, make sure all medications and household chemicals are stored out of reach in locked cabinets.

Dirty chimney

Creosote buildup from all of those evenings by the hearth can lead to a roaring flue fire, so have chimneys checked and cleaned well before the heating season begins.

Portable space heaters

Yes, they’re convenient, but they’re also fire hazards if left unattended or within reach of draperies, furnishings and other flammables. If you must use a space heater, make sure it’s off when you’re not around, and allow it to cool thoroughly before moving it to another location.

Unstoppable garage door

Today’s garage doors must include a safety feature enabling them to immediately reverse direction if they come in contact with an obstruction. Test your door occasionally to ensure that this important feature is functioning properly.

Termite infestation

Termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage every year, with much of it on the home front. At the first sign of an infestation, call your local exterminator; otherwise, these unwelcome visitors could eat your home right out from under you.

Wood rot

This dangerous wood decay is started by an invasive, moisture-loving fungus, and poses a major threat to the structural integrity of a home. Work with a pro to quickly replace or rebuild any areas where dry rot has struck.

Toxic Mold

An often-hidden health threat and a dangerous home hazard, mold hurts people as well as surfaces. Keep it at bay by managing moisture and airflow, and containing organic substances that serve as its “food.”

Clogged gutters

Not only do gunked-up gutters keep rainwater from flowing freely, they can also end up sending it close to a home’s foundation and into interior spaces where it creates moisture and mold problems. Give gutters a seasonal cleaning, and make sure they dispense water on a downward slope well away from the structure to eliminate a home danger zone.

Loose roof shingles

A shingle missing here or there may not seem like a big deal, but as the underlayments and roof structure are exposed, cracks and splits can develop and allow water to leak inside to do damage. Don’t wait to tend to roof repairs, and don’t allow them to take the place of a new surface if that’s what’s really needed.

Pools and hot tubs

They may be fun for the family, but they’re also dangerous hazards for drowning. Be aware of what’s going on in the pool and for added safety, use locked covers and secure fencing to prevent accidents between pool parties. Most importantly, never leave children unattended as they swim and play.

Unfinished finishes

That paint job that never quite got completed isn’t just a hazardous eyesore, it’s an invitation to wear and even rot where surfaces have been left exposed. If you can’t get to the job yourself, hire a pro to finish putting on that new coat of color.

Untrimmed trees

Employ a reputable care and trimming service to tend to the trees on your property. The pruning and monitoring they’ll do will prevent dangerous bough breaks as well as keep your landscaping looking beautiful.

Along with eliminating the dangerous home hazard zones above, be sure to do a regular reassessment and adjustment of your homeowners insurance. It may mean sacrifice of a little time and a few dollars, but you’ll be glad to have done both if a major home emergency ever befalls you.