Keep your home safe this year with these home maintenance tasks.
As a homeowner, you likely do a lot to protect your most valuable asset. From locking the doors to insulating the pipes in winter, there are plenty of tasks that safeguard a property from crime, damage, and expensive repairs. But, are you doing enough? With crime and property damage still on the rise, it’s important to do what you can to protect your home. Add these home maintenance tasks to your checklist!
Add a security alarm. It’s a simple solution for a very real threat. Keep your property secure, even when it’s locked up.
Check for structural damage and erosion. Erosion and structural damage around your home worsen over time, and can be a large financial undertaking to fix if left unresolved for a while. Fix cracks in the foundation as they arise.
Inspect the roof. Check your roof for any signs of damage. Replacing missing or cracked shingles helps to keep your home safe and dry. While you’re at it, clean out the gutters and direct downspouts away from your home’s foundation.
Update your smoke alarms. Check your smoke alarms periodically and replace weak batteries as soon as you notice them.
Maintain your furnace. If you have a furnace, make sure it has a clean filter. You should replace the filter as soon as it becomes dirty to prevent higher heating costs and maintain the efficiency of the system. This task is especially important both before and after winter.
Check your CO2 detector. Carbon monoxide is almost impossible to identify without a detector, as it has no odor, color, or taste. To protect your loved ones from CO poisoning, install a detector on each floor of your home. Just as you would for your security and smoke alarm, test the batteries regularly.
Create an emergency kit. Some disasters you cannot prevent. Prepare an emergency kit for your entire household just in case an accident causes you to be held up in your home for some time. Similarly, pack one for the car. The basics should include:
- Plenty of drinking water
- Non-perishable food
- Flashlight and batteries
- Blankets
- Required medications
- First aid supplies
- A hand-cranked radio
- Supplies for your pets (water, food, medication, their favorite toy)
Part of what keeps your home safe is homeowners insurance. Give your local insurance agent at Hoffman Brown Company a call to review your homeowners insurance. Working to protect your home, belongings, and finances, coverage is critical for your home in Sherman Oaks, California. Visit us today to get started.
