Anthem Realty & Mortgage

Here are some tips to keep your home safe from accidents and theft.

Chimney Safety. At the very least, you need to clean the chimney on an annual basis, before the start of the heating season to remove creosote buildup which can cause fires. Make sure the flue handle operates smoothly to allow gases to vent.
Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Defective furnaces, fireplace flues, gas appliances such as stoves, clothes dryers, and oil heaters are the most common sources of causing carbon monoxide in the home. Make sure they are all checked out prior to winter. Install carbon monoxide alarms.

Mold Control. Make sure the bathrooms are cleaned with bleach and all areas in the home are dry. Moisture leads to mold which is harmful for the lungs
Make sure you make the entire family, including kids, aware of the location of the gas main and water main and how to shut them off during emergency.
Make sure you clean the exhaust duct of the clothes dryer to prevent fire.
Test all your GFCI outlets to prevent electric shock.
Hot electric outlets mean incorrect wiring, get an electrician to fix the problem.
Regulate the water temperature at the heater to prevent scalding.
Make sure smoke detectors are installed all over the house, in each bedroom, in the hallways, in the kitchen etc.
Buy a couple of fire extinguishers and keep them handy in the kitchen and near the barbeque grill outside.
Lead in Paint. Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning and can cause irreversible brain damage Avoid activities that will disturb or damage lead-based paint and create dust. If you feel your plumbing has lead or lead solder, use only cold water for drinking and cooking. Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.
Repair all cracked, broken or uneven driveways and walks to help provide a level walking surface.

Swimming Pool Safety

Consider removing diving boards. If you choose to keep them, check them periodically to make sure bolts are tightened, the base is secured to the concrete and surfaces are slip-resistant.
Pool slides can be particularly dangerous. Never go down the slide headfirst. Make sure bolts are tightened and secured.
Provide handrails where narrow or steep steps are present and cover steps with a nonskid material. Check routinely to make sure they are secure and have no sharp edges and replace all broken treads.
Make sure there is secure fencing around any pool to keep children and unauthorized individuals from the pool area. All gates should be self-closing and lockable.
Completely remove pool covers when anyone is in the pool. Extreme care should be taken to prevent children from climbing on top of the cover or getting caught underneath. Check the cover often and remove water that accumulates on top; make sure the cover is properly anchored and tied down.
Secure all grates and drains so they cannot be removed without the use of tools. Instruct all swimmers on the dangers of entrapment and drowning that can occur when fingers, toes or the body come too close to these items. Anyone with long hair should also be cautioned not to get his or her hair near a pool outlet because the suction can be strong enough to hold even an adult under water.
Make sure all electrical appliances are kept away from the pool and use ground-fault-circuit-interrupter (GFCI) outlets at outside receptacles.

When on vacation, before you leave, it's always a great idea to:

Have newspaper and mail stopped or regularly picked up by a trusted neighbor
Ask a trusted neighbor to check on your home
Make sure a neighbor knows where the water main shut-off is located in the event of a broken pipe
Set timers on interior lights to deter burglars
Unplug TV, computer and appliances susceptible to lightning and power surges
Advise your alarm company and local police if you will be gone for an extended vacation
Take jewelry and valuable papers to a safe deposit box
Turn off water valves to your washing machine, icemaker and dishwasher
Set the heat in your home to no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit during winter.
Keep downspouts and gutters clean to prevent water backup and leaks

How to prevent break-ins: Fool them by making your home look occupied all the time.

Use automatic timers on lights when away from home.
Always park your cars in the garage with the garage door shut. A burglar may otherwise notice a pattern that a closed garage door or no cars in the driveway means no one is home. Closing the garage door and having curtains or blinds on the garage windows also hides some of your belongings.
Place radios on automatic timers and raise the volume so they can be heard outside.
Lower the sound of your telephone ringer and answering machine so that they can't be heard outside.
Never leave notes on your door that can tip off burglars.
If possible, have your telephone calls forwarded when you are away from home. Burglars sometimes check to see if someone is home by making a telephone call.
If you are away from home on garbage pickup day, ask a trusted neighbor to put your garbage cans out to the street and take them back in. You may wish to have your neighbor use your garbage cans while you are out. Burglars sometimes check for empty cans as a sign the family is away.
There are systems available that will open and close window draperies by timer. Constantly open or closed curtains can tip the burglar off that no one is home.
Even if you don't need specific help, always tell a trusted neighbor if you are going to be gone for a few days.
If you are going to be gone for an extended period, ask your local police to check your home periodically.
In short, make your house look the same whether you are away or at home.
Eliminate hiding places
Install motion detector lights around your house instead of just leaving lights on at night. The lights coming on and turning off attract the attention of neighbors. Install these lights at least 8 feet above the ground so they are more difficult to disable.
Install the motion detector lights so they light all doors and windows. Doors, since they are the preferred entry point, should be the first priority to illuminate, followed by windows.
Remove bushes and shrubs from around the house, especially under windows and next to doors. Keep your yard free of overgrowth. If you DO have shrubs and bushes, select ones with thorns to deter potential intruders from hiding in them.
Install a burglar alarm with a loud alarm and/or flashing lights. This will attract the attention of neighbors. If you install an alarm, display the decals, and remember to test the system periodically
Make your home a harder target. The average burglar will spend no more than four to five minutes trying to break into a residence.
When moving into a new residence, have the locks changed.
Consult a good locksmith to make sure you have the correct types of locks on your doors and windows.
Secure your exterior doors and any doors from attached garages.
Secure your windows by installing additional locks and installing impact-resistant glass on any windows within 42" of a door lock. This will make it more difficult to break the glass, reach in, and unlock the lock.
Prune lower branches of trees near your house if they could help a burglar gain access to a second story window.
Secure your patio door with a pin-type lock, a key lock, or a steel rod inserted into the door channel.
Secure your garage by installing automatic openers or bolt-type locks on each end of the garage doors.
Be a good neighbor. Organize a cookout or other apartment or neighborhood get together so neighbors can get to know one another. Organize or participate in a Neighborhood Watch program.