Having a home is one thing. Having a safe and healthy home for your family is another. Home should not be just a structure where your family lives. It should be the place where they feel comfortable, safe, at peace, and their health is in check. In the recent past, we have heard of individuals who have become victims of poorly maintained homes, and some cases have even had casualties. We have heard incidences of fire break-outs, houses collapsing on the occupants, attacks by robbers, water poisoning, and many other horrifying incidences. Therefore, we cannot emphasize more the importance of securing and maintaining your home for the sake of its residents.
What Is a Safe and Healthy Home?
A safe and healthy home is a concept that promotes safety, sanitary, and decent housing to minimize or eradicate diseases and injuries to its occupants. The two main things you should focus on minimizing when deciding how to create a safe and healthy home for your family are illnesses and injuries. Scientifically, there is enough proof showing how substandard housing can cause unintentional injuries and adverse health conditions, such as asthma and lead poisoning. If the concept of creating a safe and healthy home for your family seems new and complicated to you, we came up with a few of the best ways to achieve that without spending a lot of money. These ways are as follows:
Have Your HVAC System Inspected
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems have become common appliances in the majority of today’s commercial and domestic environments. However, we will be focusing on domestic use since educating you on how to create a safe and healthy home for your family. The main use for HVAC systems is to heat or cool a building depending on the weather at that particular time. Additionally, these systems offer sufficient ventilation and air conditioning to ensure your family breathes fresh, safe, and healthy air.
If you have an HVAC system in your home, you must understand that lack of regular check-ups can turn the system into a time bomb. Such inspections must be done by a qualified expert with enough knowledge on heating and cooling a house and air conditioning services. A well-maintained HVAC system ensures efficient warm and cold air distribution and eliminates frigid air from the vents. Additionally, you need to ensure the system is well-fixed to prevent injuries and accidents in case the unit falls on someone.
Keep your Roof and Gutters Maintained
Your roof and gutters experience the most intense force of gravity than all other parts of the house. If anything goes haywire, the roof and gutters could come down, collapsing on the house inhabitants. Regular maintenance is a sure way of keeping your roof and gutters in the right condition and increasing their shelf life. Apart from the crumbling risk, roofs and gutters are also vulnerable to deterioration, especially from moisture build-up. Ponding water has become a major issue today, mostly due to poor drainage and inadequate roof sloping. When ponding water occurs, it leaves the roof vulnerable to leakages and loss of structural integrity.
If your roof starts leaking or changes its appearance, it is high time to get emergency roof repair services. That is one of the best methods for creating a safe and healthy home for your family. It is advisable to ensure that your roof has sufficient drainage to prevent water from accumulating on it, which in turn leads to the growth of molds and fungus. Gutter installation should be done in a manner that makes it easy to clean them regularly. This is especially important if trees and branches are hanging over your roof. Roof and gutter maintenance should be done at least every six months.
Make Household Repairs
Carrying out repairs on your house says safety better than anything else. Every part of your house needs to be in perfect condition all the time. Repairs are the best way to keep your house in order because the different materials used in its construction wear and tear at different rates. Covering the holes on the walls, conducting garage door repairs, redoing the floor, repairing the stairs are some of the household repairs that guarantee your family’s safety. Although the homeowner can do household repairs, we highly recommend you hire a qualified person. As long as we are talking about a safe home, you also need to ensure you don’t indulge in any activity that may harm you in the process.
However, you feel the home repairs are doable, and you might incur high costs by hiring an expert, you can then go on and DIY them. If you decide to handle the repairs yourself, ensure you have the right tools, understand the procedure, and above all, wear protective gear, such as goggles and gloves. A point to remember is that if the repairs are technical, for instance, repairing the HVAC system, water heater, and sewer line, it is always advisable to consult an expert in that field. Repairs are among the best solutions to how to create a safe and healthy home for your family.
Keep Mold at Bay
The majority of homeowners do not know what mold is. Mold is a fungus that can have detrimental effects on human health when it grows in large quantities. Respiratory issues, asthma, and allergies are some of the most common health effects of mold. At its worst, mold can cause neurological issues and even death. This shows how important it is to keep your home free of mold and understanding water damage insurance claims regarding your family’s health and well-being. Mold and mildew have become a nuisance, especially in areas with hot and humid climates. According to research, our houses’ air is overly polluted compared to the air outside the house.
Mold has been recognized as one of the most insidious agents that tamper with indoor air quality. On our previous point, we mentioned that the accumulation of water (moisture) leads to mold growth, which can go undetected for a long time. Some of the most common areas around the home where mold thrives well include the kitchen, bathroom, crawlspaces, and basements. Additionally, mold also does well where there are leakages in the ceiling, walls, and drainage system. One of the worst places for mold to grow is in your HVAC system.
Keep your Water Supply in Good Condition
We all know that water is life. So, if your home’s water supply is not okay, it could have some severe consequences on your family’s well-being. That is not how to create a safe and healthy home for your family. Additionally, if the water supply is not well-fixed and there are leakages, you could experience a rapid upsurge in your water bills. However, some homes have adapted to water use from a well, which does not require to be paid for. Water from a well can be used for various purposes, such as cleaning, washing, farming, and much more. In most cases, such water is not safe for human consumption. If you have a well in your home, you must always ensure that it is always in good condition.
The best way to do that is by procuring a water well repair service from professionals who are conversant with such matters. If your water supply is piped, you must regularly look out for blockages and leakages in the drainage system. Blockages could lead to the bursting of the pipes, which is a scenario that can cost you a lot. On the other hand, leakages are dangerous because, as we mentioned above, mold does well in moist places. In case the pipes are blocked or leaking, you should contact local plumbers to help you fix such issues.
Remove Renovation Waste Promptly
It is always advisable to repair and renovate your house regularly to maintain its structural integrity. However, what do you do with the waste collected after the renovation process? How soon do you get rid of such waste from your newly renovated house? Prompt removal of renovation waste is an idea you should embrace if you want to know how to create a safe and healthy home for your family. If left lying around, such garbage can harm your family members. For instance, unused nails and broken pieces of timber can injure anyone who steps on them. Cleaning such trash can be hectic, especially if major renovations have been done in your home.
However, there are some steps to take to help you remove renovation trash with less hassle. Contacting your local trash collector is the best method of getting rid of renovation waste. Those guys are quite experienced in the construction waste management field, and they will surely do their work appropriately. You might be confused about what to do or where to take the rubbish produced during renovation. Garbage collectors will help you get rid of such waste and transport it to recycling facilities or landfills. The best thing about garbage collectors is that they can avail themselves to clean up your home anytime. You will, however, be required to pay them for their services.
Keep Trees Safely Pruned
Imagine your children playing outside, and a tree branch falls and injures them. It is not the best scenario for you as a homeowner. Additionally, if the trees in your home are not well and regularly pruned, their branches become so long and may end up penetrating the house. Trees that are not well-pruned may also house dangerous animals, such as snakes and rodents. This is a recipe for disaster, and prompt action should be taken to cut down those branches. As you embark on this activity, remember the key thing here is ‘safely prune.’
If you want to know how to create a safe and healthy home for your family, you must ensure you have the right tools for the job. One of the best pieces of equipment to use is the Extendable Pole Pruner Saw. You can use this pruner to cut down tree branches from a safe distance, thanks to its extendable handle. The equipment is two-in-one, in that besides the heavy-duty saw for thick branches, there is a pruner blade for smaller ones. However, you might find that the trees in and around your home are very tall, and their branches are hard to reach. In such a case and for your safety’s sake, it is recommendable to acquire a tree trimming service from experts in that field.
Install a Fence Around Your Yard
One of the best ways to keep intruders away from your home is by installing a strong and quality fence. Today, theft, burglary, and robbery have become a threat to many homes. Some of such instances have caused deaths and serious injuries very many homeowners and their families. Therefore, if you want to keep such intruders away, a fence would be the most appropriate solution. Putting up a good fence can be a daunting exercise, which might drain your energy if you decide to do it yourself. That is why we recommend acquiring fence installation services from professionals who are well-versed with such projects.
Additionally, fences can be a perfect barrier for dangerous animals that may cause nuisance and destruction to you, your family, and your property. Effective fencing is the perfect way to keep your children and pets safe from cars and other external dangers. Besides the safety advantages, a good fence also improves your home’s aesthetics. The privacy you enjoy with a sturdy fence is incomparable. You get the freedom to open your doors and windows for fresh air without worrying that someone is watching you. Having a fence is one of the best ways to create a safe and healthy home for your family.
Everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy environment. However, as a homeowner, you might not know how to create a safe and healthy home for your family. The above-discussed ways are the best we could find for you if you want to ensure your family lives safe and healthy. Regular home repairs and maintenance are some of the unavoidable steps when creating a safe and healthy home. Check out all the systems around your home and ensure they are all functional and well-fixed to avoid any accidents.