Top 10 Safety Checks for Your Home This Spring
It’s that time of year again when the clocks go forward, the temperatures are rising, and our gardens are finally blooming. For most of us, that means scheduling a spring clean.
It’s important to do more than just freshen up, though. Our biggest priority is to make our homes safe for our families, especially after a long Irish winter.
To help you get started, we prepared a checklist of 10 top tips to keep your home safe and sound all year ‘round. From boiler servicing to fire safety and weatherproofing, we’ve got you covered.
1. Schedule a boiler service
Your boiler has probably been working double time lately, helping to keep you and your family cosy during the cold months.
Every boiler should be serviced at least once a year to keep it working efficiently and safely. If yours is due or overdue a tune-up, don’t delay — call a registered service professional and arrange a service as soon as possible.
2. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
No family should find out their alarms aren’t working the hard way. Make testing your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide alarms a monthly habit.
Press the test button on each detector to make sure it’s working and replace the batteries or overall unit if any fail to respond.
3. Check and clean gutters and drains
Last winter was a stormy one, so it’s quite likely your gutters and drains are clogged with leaves, moss, and other debris. You might only realise there’s a problem when a roof gutter collapses, a drain overflows, or you encounter a leak or damp issues inside your home.
This may seem like a messy job, but it’s worth including this as part of your home maintenance routine at least twice a year.
4. Arrange for a chimney clean
If you have an open fire or a solid fuel stove, getting your chimney swept is essential. Without regular cleaning, soot and other debris can build up in a chimney, potentially causing blockages or even a devastating home fire.
In fact, chimneys, flues, soot, and hot ashes have been the leading identifiable cause of fires in homes in Ireland in recent years.
5. Inspect electrical sockets and wiring
Faulty electrical wiring is a fire hazard, and you would be surprised how common it is in many Irish houses, especially among older properties. Look for loose or damaged sockets, frayed or exposed wires, and flickering lights which might indicate a problem.
Never attempt to rectify these issues yourself — call a qualified electrician immediately.
6. Secure your home against burglaries
Break-ins can be devastating, so it’s important to do everything we can to prevent them. This is particularly important if you’re planning to go away on holidays this year — in Ireland, almost one in four summertime burglaries take place through unsecured access points.
Check your door and window locks, test any motion-sensor lights outside your home, and consider installing CCTV and a Ring-type doorbell for added security. It’s always a good idea to have an alarm fitted to your home. It brings added security and you may even be eligible for a discount on your home insurance policy.
7. Trim overgrown trees and bushes
Isn’t it amazing how quickly nature bursts back into life after a long winter? If you’ve noticed that your garden is looking a little wild this spring, make sure to trim tree branches that could damage your property.
It’s also important to maintain hedges and bushes for added security and safety.
8. Check your central heating system
If you have oil-fired central heating in your home, you should check your tank and any pipes to make sure they’re in good working order. Look out for cracks or corrosion, oil stains or strong smells, or blocked and damaged filters.
Even the smallest leak can give rise to costly repairs, so call a qualified heating expert immediately if you suspect a problem.
9. Protect your oil storage tank
Oil theft is a growing problem, particularly in rural parts of Ireland, so it’s important we take steps to secure our oil tanks. Depending on the location and type of tank you use, you could lock it with a sturdy padlock, install fencing or shrubbery to obscure it, or set up motion-sensor lights or CCTV cameras.
The first sign that something’s wrong, will be a sudden drop in oil levels, so it’s a good idea to check these regularly.
10. Double-check your home insurance
Even if you follow all of these safety steps, accidents, burglaries, and unexpected events can still happen. That’s why you should review your home insurance policy regularly to make sure you’re sufficiently covered for your building, contents, or both.
The best home insurance policies in Ireland will have extra optional benefits too, like a 24-hour emergency home repair helpline and a replacement locks service. There are home insurance options for general home owners, first-time buyers, landlords, renters and holiday home owners — get in touch with the experts to learn more.
Research from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that carrying out spring cleaning could bring a whole host of benefits, including an improved mood, decreased stress, and heightened creativity. Plus, if you follow these tips, you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you’re keeping your home safe and secure for you and your family too.
So why wait?
Throw open the windows, pop in a pair of earphones, and start working through this handy home maintenance checklist today!
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