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10 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe

10 Ways to Keep You, Your Family and Your Home Safe

It’s never too soon to start thinking about home safety, but it can be too late. Most home safety measures can be put in place by a qualified electrician or plumber so all it takes on your part is a quick call and you’ll be on your way to a safer home in no time. Here is a list of ten easy ways that you can keep your home and family safe, starting today.

Install At Least Two RCDs

Residual Current Devices (RCDs) detect faults in the current running from your switch board. If they find a problem, they will cut your power off which can prevent nasty accidents in your home such as fire and electrocution. It is a base legal requirement to have at least two RCDs installed in a home before sale or lease but you may want to consider more, depending on your home.

Update Your Home Security.

There are a range of home security options out there to choose from. Motion security lights are a really great, simple deterrent for burglars, and they have the added bonus of providing light when you’re trying to get into your front door late at night. A reliable alarm system is important to have too, especially if you are away from home often, and if you’re really concerned about your home security you could always have security cameras installed.

Check Your Fire Alarms.

It has been a legal requirement for new homes to have a mains powered smoke alarm fitted since 1997. If your home is older than that, it’s a good idea to call an electrician to make sure you have a fully functioning smoke alarm. A qualified electrician will be able to tell you exactly what you need to have in order to meet the legal requirements and keep your home safe.

DIY with Caution.

Before messing around with your walls by cutting, drilling or nailing, make sure it’s safe to do so. You’ll need to find out if there are any pipes or electrical wiring in the way to avoid hitting them. Taking this small precaution will keep you from doing to damage to both yourself and your home. So if ever you are concerned about the safety of a DIY project, it’s always better to call a plumber or electrician and put your mind at ease.

Get Power Point Covers.

If you have children or use a lot of electrical appliances near water, such as in your bathroom or kitchen, it may be time to consider having power point covers installed. These covers will keep out water, fingers or anything else that shouldn’t go in a power point. It’s a really simple step to avoid a power outage, fire or much worse.

Lower Your Hot Water Temperature.

This is another preventative measure you can put in place to create a child safe home. To prevent burns, have a plumber lower your hot water system’s maximum temperature output. This is a good idea in any home but especially so if you have children who may turn the wrong tap on by accident. It may also come with the added bonus of helping you reduce your bills.

Be Careful with Your Power Boards.

Never overload your power boards by adding too many adaptors, it is a serious hazard. Instead, choose a larger power board designed to handle a lot of appliances. If you still have too many, consider installing new power outlets instead. It’s also a good idea to get into the habit of unplugging any electrical appliances when not in use (that’s more money saved on your power bill too!).

Look After Your Electrical Appliances.

Avoid having to rely on your safety backups kicking in by keeping your electrical appliances working safely. That means having those frayed cords or unreliable kitchen gadgets repaired at the first sign of damage. For any major electrical appliances, you will need to have them serviced regularly to ensure they are running both safely and efficiently at all times.

Be Careful Around Flooding.

Whether from a burst pipe, leaking tap or extreme weather, you must be extra careful when your home floods. Never risk trying to fix the problem yourself, even if you’re sure there is no risk of electrocution. As the flooding continues, that could change. Instead, stay a safe distance from the area and call a qualified electrician right away.

Always Have a Plan.

Set aside some time to make a plan of what to do in case of an emergency. You never know when you’ll need it so it’s best to do it as soon as possible and remind your family members of the plan every so often. One of the most important parts of this plan should be a list of emergency phone numbers that you, your children and any babysitters or carers that come to your home will always have on hand in the event of an emergency. This list should include the police, fire and ambulance services; close friends or family members you may need to get in contact with; a poison information hotline; your local animal control; the number of a plumber or electrician that is available 24/7; and any other contact numbers relevant to your household.

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