Your home should be a clean and calming space where you can relax after a long day at work. However, without proper care and maintenance, your house could become a dangerous place. Health risks and safety concerns can occur when a property is neglected. Luckily, it’s never too late to start routine maintenance to safeguard your property. Here are some practical ways to keep a safe and healthy home.

Install Smoke Alarms to Keep a Safe and Healthy Home

A fire can be destructive to property, not to mention fatal. Annually, there are thousands of properties destroyed as a result of house fires.

Smoke detectors alert if a fire is detected, giving you and your family time to escape the building and call for help. Install these alarms on all floors, and each bedroom, even the basement. Test the devices every month to confirm they are functioning correctly. Keep spare batteries at home in case you need to replace them.

Prevent Pest Infestations

Pests such as termites, mice, and roaches can threaten your property. They can damage the structural foundation of your home and reduce the property value. To keep these pests from causing damage, keep them out. It’s usually easier to prevent an infestation than deal with pests in your home. Once they have infested your home, it can be challenging to eradicate them. You will likely need to hire a professional.

Keep your house clean to prevent mice, termites, and other pests. Wipe down kitchen surfaces, tightly wrap food, wash dirty dishes, and take out the trash. Keep humidity levels under control and seal gaps and cracks that animals may use to enter your home.

Provide Clean Drinking Water

It is common for people to drink tap water at home. However, this water is not always free from bacteria and contaminants. There could be pesticides, radon, lead, or other harmful chemicals in the water which are detrimental to your health.

To guarantee your tap water is safe, have it tested. Once you get the results, install a home water filter. Water filters act as a barrier that traps or blocks bacteria and pollutants from passing through.

Improve Security for a Safe and Healthy Home

Even homes in the nicest neighborhoods are susceptible to burglary and criminal activities. To safeguard your property, lock doors and windows every time you sleep or leave the house.

If you’re going on vacation, make your home appear occupied. Contact the post office to hold your mail until you return to prevent it from piling up. Install security cameras to monitor activity around the home. Place motion detector lights in your yard to illuminate the space after dark. This will help deter thieves as they tend to shy away from well-lit properties.

Reifsteck Home Inspections offers inspections to homebuyers and sellers in Champaign, Illinois, and the surrounding areas. Contact us to request an appointment.