These important safety tips will help to keep you and your family safe in and around your house. Considering safety factors whether you build a cozy English cottage house plan or a Mediterranean mansion, these will ensure your home is safe from the first day you live it.
• Besides the convenience, keeping a phone list in the kitchen is also a safety feature. Jot down the numbers for the police, fire department, doctors, neighbors and family members so you can act quickly if you have to.
• Don’t run an empty microwave because it can overheat and cause serious damage.
• Change the air filter in your furnace monthly because a clogged filter can cause the unit to overheat and lead to premature damage of your air conditioning system.
• Don’t use a metal ladder near electrical wiring or power lines because it poses the risk of electric shock.
• A convenient, efficient source of outdoor security lighting are motion detectors. Properly positioned motion detectors make it virtually impossible for any prowlers to sneak up on your house.
• With prowlers in mind, when you are away make your home appear occupied by leaving lights and a radio on a timer, have the lawn mowed and have someone collect your mail and newspapers.
• When it comes to dreaded termites, a few simple precautions can go a long way. Fix all leaks, clean overflowing gutters and use splash blocks to divert water from your foundation so your house stays dry and uninviting to such pests. Isolate wood from masonry or concrete, trim shrubbery and keep wood mulch away from your house to keep termites away. Also, make sure that firewood is stored off the ground at least 15 feet from your house and that no tree stumps or scrap wood are in the vicinity.
• Keep your water heater temperature set at no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding.
• If you are using well water, be aware of the agricultural activity in your area that affects the quality of your water and after your first year at the property, test it as you feel necessary.
• Fireplaces are consistently rated as one of the top amenities desired by homeowners and are particularly cozy to include when choosing any style home from rustic to an authentic English country cottage house plans. Further, fireplaces have one of the highest investment returns of any addition to your home. Here are several ways to stay safe when you use your cozy fireplace:
• When you light the fire, keep the flue fully open for maximum airflow to feed the flames. When the fire is roaring, close the flue to the point where the chimney starts smoking and then open it a tad for the most heat. To keep the airflow constant and avoid buildup of carbon monoxide, open the window closest to the fireplace a half inch. Keep a fire extinguisher handy because even a dead fire can suddenly shoot out random, carpet-igniting sparks.
• Also, enclose the opening of a fireplace with a sturdy screen or glass doors. Never close the flue while the fire is still smoldering because carbon monoxide can build up.
• Make sure to have your chimney or flue cleaned regularly because blocked residue or even a bird’s nest can disrupt proper ventilation and endanger the health of you and your family.
• For outdoor fires, pottery chimneas and freestanding metal fireplaces are enjoyable and cozy addition to your yard. Consider including a safe outdoor living space when selecting from English cottage house plans or vacation house plans. Make sure not to put these fireplaces on wooden decks or other flammable surfaces.
• General fire safety tips include using fabric for curtains and upholstery that is flame retardant. New sofas have to meet strict fire regulations but second-hand furniture may have been made before they came into force. Also, never leave the dryer running when you are not at home. Consider that during 1998, there were 14,300 home fires related to dryers.
• The most important way to prevent fires is to make sure your home is equipped with working smoke detectors. Place one on the entry level and outside of each sleeping area. Test your smoke detectors monthly and replace all batteries at least annually. A good guideline is to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at the beginning and end of Daylight Savings Time. These lifesaving devices should be treated this way and constantly monitored to make sure they will work when you need them most.
• Over one eighth of house fires that occur each year are caused by space-heating equipment. Liquid fuel or electric heaters must be at least three feet away from any object, including the walls.
Keeping safety mind when you choose your house plan will ensure the well being of you and your family from the very beginning.