Ring in the New Year with a New Home Safety Attitude

From carbon monoxide leaks to flooded basements, problems can happen in a home that can cause a myriad of safety issues.

With the new year just around the corner, now is a great time to commit to home safety in 2024. A resolution to keep your plumbing from flooding your home, your HVAC safe and your electrical system free from fire hazards is a great idea.

Here are some ideas to start your New Year’s Resolution:

HVAC Safety Tips

One of the best things you can do to improve home safety is to install fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. These alert your family to hazards early, giving them time to safely get out of the house.

You should also regularly change your HVAC system’s air filter and make sure your air ducts are clean. A clogged filter not only creates unhealthy air, it is also a fire hazard. Because a clogged filter reduces oxygen flow, it can create what is known as a “flame rollout” from the furnace. This can cause objects around the furnace to catch fire.

Dirty air ducts are also responsible for allowing mold and other allergens to grow in your home. Mold spores are the cause of a number of respiratory issues.

Plumbing Safety Tips

Do you know how to turn off your water main? You’d be surprised to learn that most people don’t know how to do that. Take some time to learn how to shut off the water coming into your home. Being able to shut it off prevents flooding and a large utility bill.

Most people also consider clogged drains a simple annoyance, but they can be a health hazard. If sewer waste is allowed to back up into sinks and tubs, it can introduce all kinds of unhealthy and deadly bacteria into the home.

Electrical Safety Tips

While it’s still the holiday season, chances are you have a lot of additional lights and extension cords running through your home. Make sure you have not overloaded your outlets and use power strips with surge protectors.

You should also inspect your home for older appliances. Any appliance with a frayed cord should be thrown out and replaced. You should also consider replacing your outlets with an Arc Fault Protection Interrupter (ACFI). An AFCI outlet spots the moment a potentially defective fault occurs and blocks the power to that item before a problem begins.

But whatever you do to improve your home’s safety this new year, maintaining your home’s comfort systems is a must. Having your air conditioning and heating systems inspected annually by qualified HVAC technicians helps you identify issues that can cause problems later. If your home is older, you may want to consider a plumbing or electrical inspection, too.

Your Brooklyn plumbing and heating experts at Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning, Heating, Cooling & Drain Cleaning are here to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions on track. Call us at (718) 748-1254 or contact us online to schedule an HVAC or plumbing inspection today!