Safety Tips
Electrical Safety Plugs
If there are small children in the home, install safety plugs to cover unused electrical outlets. This also minimizes the air infiltration that sometimes occurs with these outlets. Teach children to never touch electrical outlets, sockets, or fixtures.
Poison
Keep poison and hazardous materials away from the reach of children.
Dig Safety
Before digging, check the location of buried service leads by calling the utility locating service. (1-800-dig-safe).
Refrigerator/Freezer Outlets
Do not plug a refrigerator or food freezer into a GFCI-controlled outlet. The likelihood of the contents being ruined is high. Refrigerators and freezers should be plugged into a dedicated outlet.
Fireplace Safety
Do not burn trash in the fireplace and never use any type of liquid fire starter. Creosote and other wood-burning by-products accumulate inside the flue over a period of time. This build-up can be a fire hazard. The way you use your fireplace and the type of wood you burn determines the frequency of your chimney cleanings. For instance, burning soft woods or improperly seasoned woods necessitates more frequent cleaning. Have a qualified chimney sweep for this cleaning.The exterior vent cover for a direct-vent gas fireplace becomes extremely hot when the fireplace is operating.
Garage Doors
Since the garage door is a large moving object, periodic maintenance is necessary. Every six months apply a 30-weight automobile oil or similar lubricant to all moving parts: track, rollers, hinges, pulleys, and springs. At the same time, check to see that all hardware is tight and operating as intended without binding or scraping. Avoid over lubricating to prevent drips on vehicles or the concrete floor. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe and reliable operation. Do not allow anyone except the operator near the door when it is in motion. Keep hands and fingers away from all parts of the door except the handle. Do not allow children to play with or around the door. For your safety, after the expiration of the one-year warranty, have any needed adjustments made by a qualified specialist. The door springs are under a considerable amount of tension ad require special tools and knowledge for accurate and safe servicing. Have the door inspected by a professional garage door technician after any significant impact to the door.
Gas Shutoffs & Safety
You will find the shut-offs on gas lines near their connection to each item that operates on gas. In addition, there is a main shut-off at the meter. We point these out during the orientation. If you suspect a gas leak, leave the home and call the gas company immediately for emergency service.
If you suspect a carbon monoxide leak, call your local fire department to have your home tested.
Vacuum the area around a gas-fired water heater to prevent dust from interfering with proper flame combustion. Avoid using the top of the water heater as a storage shelf
At least once each year, manually operate the pressure relief valve on your water heater. Use extreme caution when performing this test. The water can be extremely hot and cause injury. See manufacturer’s literature for diagrams and detailed instructions. The recommended thermostat setting for normal everyday use is “normal”. Higher settings can result in wasted energy dollars and increases the danger of injury from scalding. Hot water will take longer to arrive at sinks, tubs, and showers art are farther from the water heater.
Never cover or block the combustion air vent on a furnace in any way. Outside air is needed to supply the furnace with sufficient oxygen. Blocking the combustible air vent will cause the furnace to draw air down the vent piper and pull poisonous gases back into your home.
Furnace & Humidifier
Check, clean, and /or replace the your furnace filter on a monthly basis.Your humidifier water panel must be change annually to prevent mold and mildew from forming
Smoke Detectors
For your safety, clean each smoke detector monthly to prevent a false alarm or lack of response in a fire. After cleaning, push the test button to confirm the alarm is working. (Replace batteries as necessary).
Attic Safety
When you perform needed tasks in the attic, use caution and avoid stepping off wood members onto the drywall. This can help result in personal injury or damage to the ceiling below.
Roof Safety
Limit walking on your roof. Your weight and movement can loose the roofing material and in turn result in leaks. Never walk on the roof of your home when the shingles are wet.
Proper Ventilation
Homes today are built more tightly than ever. This saves energy dollars but creates a potential concern. Condensation, cooking odors, indoor pollutants, radon, and carbon monoxide may all accumulate. We provide mechanical and passive methods for ventilating homes. Your attention to ventilation is important to health and safety.
Building codes require attic and crawl space vents to minimize accumulation of moisture. Attic ventilations occurs through vents in the soffits(the underside of the overhangs) or on gable ends. Driving rain or snow sometimes enters the attic through these vents. Do not cover them to prevent this. Instead, cover the insulation if front of the vent. When you do this, precipitation that blows in safely evaporates and ventilation can still occur.
Your daily habits can help keep your home well ventilated:
- Do not cover or interfere in any way with the fresh air supply to your furnace.
- Develop the habit of running the hood fan when you are cooking.
- Ditto the bath fans when bathrooms are in use.
- Air your house by opening windows for a time when weather permits.
Proper ventilation will prevent excessive moisture from forming on the inside of the windows. This helps reduce cleaning chores considerably.
Stairway Safety
Stairways can present a safety hazard. Please keep the following tips in mind to help prevent accidents and injuries on stairs.
- Keep stairways clear at all times. This includes the landing areas.
- Make sure stairs are equipped with secure handrails and that they are installed at a comfortable height.
- Repair any stairs that are loose, broken or have a slippery surface. Fix loose or torn carpeting.
- If there are rugs at the top or bottom of the stairs make sure they have a non-slip backing.
- The edge of each stair should be clearly visible.
- Use caution when taking any medicine that may cause side effects such as dizziness or blurred vision.
- When using stairs, take your time, don’t carry items that will block your view of the stairs or prevent you from holding onto the handrail and make sure you can see clearly. This includes removing reading glasses or wearing glasses prescribed for distance.