Check These Items in Your Home Regularly to Stay Safe.
Existence is precarious. There are so many ways the universe can ruin your day that it’s incredible that any of us can make it from morning to bed unscathed. At least we have agency and intelligence, the ability to recognize threats and take action to avoid problems. Our houses, which are inanimate collections of boards, nails and fine ornaments, do not have this ability.
This means that it is up to us. You can’t go through your days assuming that if nothing is actively burning, there’s nothing wrong with your house; Threats to your well-being and your wallet often simmer for a long time in the silence and darkness, waiting to ruin your day just when it can do the most harm. Your best defense is to go on the offensive and regularly inspect important aspects of your home, identifying potential problems before they manifest and ensuring everything is working as intended. Here are 10 things you probably don’t check regularly, but you absolutely should.
Smoke detectors and CO alarms
How often to check: monthly.
Your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms can save your life if their batteries are fresh and in good working condition. Test your alarms monthly by pressing the TEST button, and change the batteries at least once a year (every six months is better), even if they seem to be working fine. And remember when your alarm needs to be completely replaced – at a minimum, it should be replaced every 10 years, but more often is probably a good idea.
Fire extinguishers
How often to check: monthly.
Perhaps you were given a small fire extinguisher when you bought your home, or you picked one up when you first moved in. And he probably hasn’t moved since then. But fire extinguishers can malfunction and lose pressure, making them completely useless in a fire. Check them every month to make sure they are still charged, not hidden or difficult to reach, and have no visible signs of corrosion.
Best before date
How often to check: Annually
Of course, expiration dates are more like guidelines than rules, and you probably don’t need to throw everything in your refrigerator and pantry the moment they “expire.” But that doesn’t mean you can keep using them indefinitely: condiments, medicines, and even bottled water will deteriorate over time. Using rancid ketchup is one thing, but having a first aid kit filled with old medications and an emergency pantry filled with stale rations and plastic-tasting water can be the difference between getting through an emergency comfortably and coming out of it unpleasantly .
Flashlights
How often to check: every three months.
Flashlights are a critical aspect of emergency preparedness, but we tend to forget about them. Leaving batteries in a flashlight can cause corrosion that will render the device unusable, but leaving batteries outside the flashlight can make them much more difficult to use in an emergency. Changing your flashlight batteries every few months will help keep them in good working order.
Gas pipelines
How often to check: monthly.
If your home has natural gas, it’s easy to forget that there is an incredibly dangerous, flammable substance being supplied to your home , and a gas line “incident” occurs approximately every 40 hours . Although natural gas has an additive that gives it an unpleasant rotten egg smell that acts as a warning sign, you should still check your gas pipes and gas appliances every month. Besides the smell, listen for hissing sounds, keep an eye on your gas bills and investigate unusually high flow rates, and invest in a gas leak detector .
Under the sink
How often to check: Annually
We hide pipes and drains because they’re not the most attractive parts of our homes, but in the dark under the sink, a slow, constant leak can rot your cabinets and floors, corroding and ruining whatever you store there. and generate mold. Once a year (at a minimum), you should look under the sink in your home to make sure you don’t have an invisible leak causing damage.
Gas cylinders and propane cylinders
How often to check: every three months.
Many of us have cans of gasoline in our garage or shed for use in lawn mowers and other appliances, as well as propane tanks for generators or outdoor kitchens. However, gasoline does spoil, so it’s a good idea to check those gas cans every few months so you can make sure your supply is fresh, as old gasoline can damage your engines and fail just when you need to start the emergency generator. And propane tanks can develop leaks , allowing propane to accumulate in low areas of your home, which can be fatal. By checking them every few months, you can save yourself a lot of headaches and potential hospital bills.
Attics, basements and cellars
How often to check: Annually
Attics, basements and unfinished basements have one thing in common: we often don’t think about them for months or even years. As they say, out of sight, out of sight, but once a year you definitely have to crawl up or down there. In the attic, look for signs of roof leaks, mold growth, or pest infestations. In the basement or crawl space, look for leaking pipes, mold and pests, and cracks in the foundation, which can herald very, very expensive repairs.
Window
How often to check: Annually
If your windows are relatively modern, they are likely to be double glazed windows insulated with inert gas between them. This makes them the best insulators, but if the seal fails, not only will you lose the shielding gas, but your windows will begin to deteriorate. Once a year, check for obvious signs that this has happened: dirt that you can’t clean off, condensation or water droplets inside the window, or strange distortions on the surface of the glass. You can’t put the genie (or, ahem, inert gas) back in the bottle, but you can prevent further damage by repairing your windows or replacing them entirely if they’re old.
Dryer ventilation
How often to check: Annually
Your dryer vent is a ticking time bomb with a fire hazard: lint is incredibly flammable . You should clean your lint traps regularly, but once a year you should also check and clean your dryer vent line, which over time becomes clogged with lint, gradually turning into a ticking time bomb that can cause a deadly fire in your home.