In the right conditions, 30 seconds is all it takes for a flame to turn into a major blaze. And household water damage can cost Americans up to $20 billion a year.
To protect your home from these threats, it’s important to stay up on your fire and water safety practices. Here are the basics of what you need to know.
Protection from Fire Damage in Nashville, TN
According to a recent report, an average of 358,000 homes experience a structural fire each year. In a five year period, this led to 2,620 deaths and $6.9 billion in property damage. Luckily, there are a variety of things you and your family can do to stay as safe as possible and help prevent fires.
Your Kitchen
As the place where most house fires start, the kitchen deserves special attention. Never leave the stove or oven on when you leave the house and keep a close eye on the food that you leave simmering on the stove.
Keep flammable items like paper towels, oven mitts, etc. away from any heat sources. And remember that grease fires can’t be put out with water, they have to be smothered.
Keep Bedrooms Safe
Don’t smoke in bed and don’t fall asleep with candles burning. Preheat your room or bed with a space heater or electric blanket, then turn off these devices for the night. And always charge electronic devices on a hard surface, not a soft blanket or another surface where they can overheat and start a fire.
Update Your Fire & Smoke Detection Devices
Change your smoke detector’s batteries twice a year and test them once a month. Make sure there is one positioned near every sleeping area and on every level of the house.
Use surge protectors to avoid electrical fires and make sure there is a fire extinguisher readily available at all times.
Have a Fire Safety Plan in Place
Every member of your family should know how to get out of the house if there is a fire. This includes windows and other atypical exit points. Plus, there should be a designated meeting place so you can quickly assess if everyone got out.
Protection from Water Damage in Nashville, TN
Water damage is not as fast as fire and usually poses a low risk to human life. However, it can cause extensive (and expensive) structural damage to your home. Here are some tips on keeping you and your family protected.
Proactively Check for Leaks
Keep an eye out for leaks constantly. Check under the kitchen and bathroom sinks periodically for drips and watch for puddles around appliances that use water, like the dishwasher.
Clear Your Gutters
Blocked gutters can mean standing water on your roof or water running down the slide of your house — both of which can lead to water in your house. Check and clean your gutters periodically to avoid this.
Prevent Pipes from Freezing
As we all know water expands as it forms into ice, which can cause your water pipe to burst if it freezes. Keep your home heated when you’re away during the winter or shut the water off and drain the pipes. Make sure that exposed pipes are well-insulated.
Look for Areas of Moisture & Mold
Flaking paint or wallpaper and water stains on the ceiling or walls are signs of the presence of moisture. Plus, you might notice a musty or moldy smell, or find mold growing in closets or cupboards.
Actively keep an eye out for these signs and be proactive as soon as you spot them. The longer you ignore a potential moisture problem, the more expensive it will be to fix.
Let the Experts at Contractors of Nashville Help You
These are all great tips to help you avoid experiencing fire or water damage in your home. But what do you do if you’ve already got a problem?
If you’ve experienced a fire, the structure of your home may have been compromised, putting your family at risk until it is properly reinforced and repaired. And sneaky water damage is just as bad — if not worse.
To keep your family safe, you need a confident team of experts. At Contractors of Nashville, we help you deal with fire or water damage from beginning to finish. We even help with insurance claims!
Let us help restore your home to the safe haven it should be, contact us today to get started!
