9 Questions To Ask Yourself About Your Home - There are several aspects of our homes that we don’t think about regularly- that is until they stop working. Read our 10 things you didn’t know about your home that may be in need of some extra attention.
1. Do you have access to your garage without power? Many garages do not have side doors- which can make getting to your vehicle very difficult should the power go out. Make sure you have a plan to access your car if this happens.
- Do you know how to shut off the main water, as well as water to sinks and toilets, the gas and electric? You may never think that you will need to know how to do this but in case of an emergency such as flooding, a fire, or even a broken toilet, it is important to know how to do this in your home.
- Are you smoke detectors working properly? Be sure that you are regularly testing your smoke detectors and changing their batteries once a year. It can be difficult to remember that you even have them until you’ve accidentally set them off, but it is important to be sure they are in proper working order.
- Do you have carbon monoxide detectors? If you run appliances or systems running off wood, gas, oil or another non-electric fuel it is important to have these detectors. They can be found at your local hardware store and are easy to install.
- Have you been regularly cleaning your dryer? This may seem like a silly concept but dryer lint can build up around the opening to the house and to the vent outside. The build up can easily cause a fire. Take apart the hose at the openings, sweep them and clear out any debris or build up.
- Have you regularly replaced the filters in your home? Things that you may have in your home that have a filter need to be replaced. Furnace filters should be replaced every two to three months. Ice-maker filters should be replaced once a year. Water dispenser filters, replace once a year. Coils on your refrigerator or freezer should be cleaned once a year.
- Do you know or remember what is in the walls? If you had a home inspection when you bought your house, pull it out; and review what was said about your home (you may catch things that you overlooked before). Is the wiring old? What about the plumbing? Were there signs of current leaks? Drainage issues? Termites? Knowing these things can help you catch safety issues before they become a problem and help you to plan for repairs that seem inevitable.
- Do you know how to fix a toilet? Beyond using a plunger this may rocket science to some people, yet relatively easy fixes. Do some quick research so you know how to deal with these pesky issues before they come up.
- Are you and your home prepared for an emergency? Do you have flashlights, candles, water bottles, etc. should the power go out? It is also important to have a generator. Many can be set up to turn on automatically during a power outage to keep important appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers, up and running.
By asking yourself these questions, you will be better prepared for anything that could arise with your home. How have you prepared yourself for these events and kept up with the maintenance on your home? Comment to share with us.
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