Indoor safety resolutions

Photo: Contributed - phototechno

Make your home safe with five easy New Year's indoor safety resolutions

Resolution One: Have your natural gas appliances and venting systems serviced and inspected in January. 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas formed as a by-product of burning fuel for energy or heat. Your natural gas furnace, natural gas water heater, natural gas inserts, fireplace or wood burning appliances are primary sources of carbon monoxide in your home. To prevent CO levels from reaching unsafe levels, these appliances must be properly installed, maintained, and vented. As a side benefit to the inspection, you’ll have the peace of mind that the units are operating at optimum potential to save you money. 

Resolution Two: Test your carbon monoxide alarm and smoke detectors. 

Carbon monoxide alarms are warning devices that can save your life. The same is true of smoke alarms, yet you’d be amazed at the lack of attention paid to these devices. Members of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) are required to report on the presence of carbon monoxide and smoke alarms during a home inspection. Newer homes pose a lesser concern, as there are requirements for the installation of these devices during construction. Older homes and rental properties have a higher rate of non-compliance. 

Resolution Three: Inspect your existing steps and handrails and install and repair them as needed. 

CAHPI inspectors in British Columbia are required to inspect steps, stairways, and railings. The inspector is also required to report on the absence or ineffectiveness of guards and handrails as they relate to potential physical injury hazards. Falling on stairs is one of the most common incidents that occur at home, and is the leading cause of nonfatal unintentional injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms. One of the most important things you can do when ascending or descending stairs is to use the handrail. Holding on to the handrail give you two points of contact and balance at all times.

Resolution Four: Make sure your clothes dryer is venting properly. 

Dryer lint can seem innocent, but it's highly combustible. Two things will happen your dryer vents properly: First, it will operate more efficiently and reduce dry-times, thus saving energy. Second, you will reduce the potential of lint buildup-related fires. 

Building code typically requires that a ridged metal dryer ducting be no more than 25 feet in length. 45-degree and 90-degree bends greatly reduce total length. In most cases, a clothes dryer is best installed at an exterior wall to minimize duct length. Spiral flex ducts (transition ducts) collect more lint and can easily be crushed which could potentially start lint fires. Spiral flex ducts are easy to install compared to smooth rigid metal ducting, but it is rare that I see a spiral flex duct installed properly. You’d be surprised to see how many homeowners use an entire length (usually 25 feet) of flex ducting when only inches are needed. Transition ducts should never exceed a few feet and should remain entirely within the room in which the appliance is installed.

Resolution Five: Review your home security. 

You should always control who has access to your home, and that begins with a key inventory. Most homes change hands. The previous homeowner may have loaned keys to family members, trades, cleaning companies, friends and neighbours. You may have done the same. This is why you should review the necessity to rekey the locks to secure your home.

Call your friendly locksmith to remove, rekey, and reinstall your locks. There are do-it-yourself kits available to rekey your home, but for the not-so-handy, calling a locksmith is the way to go. An added benefit of a locksmith: You’re likely to get some advice on deficiencies in security that you may not have noticed.

Five resolutions, each one critical to your home safety. Happy New Year and Happy Resolutions!

Photo: Hugh Cairns

Make a resolution to review your home security. You should always control who has access to your home, and that begins with a key inventory.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.