Don't let your home become a victim this winter

There are a lot of increased dangers for homes during the winter season , and if you're not careful your home could fall prey to winter perils. Here are the top 5 tips to keep your home (and your family) safe all winter long.

Top 5 ways to keep your home (and family) safe this winter

1. Prevent Christmas fires: Between electrical problems with the tree , chimney fires and furnace problems , winter time sees a large spike in home fires. Since cold weather and the holidays are officially under way , make sure you follow these quick and easy home safety tips to guard your home from fires:

• Have your furnace cleaned and inspected to make sure everything is in working condition for the cold months ahead.
• Double check your flu to make sure it is open before starting your first fire of the winter , and consider having your chimney swept at the beginning of each wood burning season. Be careful with decorations above the chimney that could hang too low and catch fire.
• Christmas trees are the leading cause of winter home fires. Here is a great link full of christmas tree safety tips: Christmas Tree Safety Tips 

2. Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning: 15 ,000 Americans per year suffer from carbon monoxide exposure in their homes , most of which occur during the winter. Cold winter nights lead to a lot of extra heat pumping into your home. Protect yourself by installing carbon monoxide detectors. It's inexpensive and easy , and it can save your life. BE ONE OF THE FIRST 2 CLIENTS TO STOP BY THE OFFICE AND ASK ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A FREE DETECTOR FOR YOUR HOME!

3. Stop pipes from freezing: Frozen pipes can be an extremely expensive masalah for your home during the cold winter nights. The red cross has some great safety tips for frozen pipes: Red Cross Tips , but here are some tried and true favorites.

• Leave a faucet dripping
• Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air around the plumbing
• When leaving town , be careful how low you set your thermostat

4. Prevent home break ins: Crime is on the rise every Christmas season , and with the economy in the tanks many cities are expecting a lot of extra burglaries this year. You can find a full list of ways to stop thieves from ruining your Christmas at the following link: Prevent Home Burglary , but here are some of the top tips:

• Tighten up your locks: door locks can come loose over time making them easier for thieves to get through. Tighten up or replace old and worn door locks
• Don't hide a key outside your door. Instead , leave a key with a trusted neighbor
• Don't post on facebook or twitter that you'll be out of town
• Use timed lights when leaving town
• Use window locks or bars

5. Stop lawsuits - keep your guests from getting hurt on your property and keep yourself out of court. It's much easier for guests to slip and fall during the winter season. Make sure you shovel and salt your driveway and sidewalk to prevent ice and snow build up.

It only takes a little time and effort to prevent damages to your home and injuries to your family and guests. A little prevention can also help keep your insurance rates lower by avoiding unnecessary home claims. For a free Better Homes and Gardens "Home Safe and Sound" book full of ways to keep your home safe , be one of the first 5 clients to stop by the office and request your free copy. (must choose between book and carbon monoxide detector - cannot receive both).

By Robert Edgin

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