It's Home Safety Month!
The National Safety Council has declared June “Home Safety Month,” and it’s a great time to think about things you can do to keep yourself safe from indoor air pollution and protected from injury due to overconfidence in your do-it-yourself abilities. Here are a few things to put on your “honey do” list:
Keep your indoor air quality up to par by:
Changing air filters regularly.
Vacuuming the coils on your furnace, refrigerator, and other appliances to reduce particulate matter in the air.
Cleaning your humidifier and/or dehumidifier to eliminate potential mold and moisture.
Ensuring all air vents, interior and exterior, are free of dust and debris.
Getting a professional assessment of your air quality needs, and then installing an air cleaner, UV germicidal lamp, or air sterilizer as recommended.
Ensuring that the air in your garage, along with its chemical and exhaust fumes, ventilates to the outdoors instead of into the house.
Cleaning all ceiling fans so they don’t circulate dust and particulate matter throughout the house.
Checking and changing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; dust thoroughly around the entire unit, so the sensors are unobstructed.
Know your limits, DIY-wise:
Are you a professional plumber? If not, don’t tackle any projects larger than changing a faucet or shower head. Calling a plumber to do the job correctly the first time is significantly less expensive than calling a professional to do the job correctly and fix the damage you caused.
Are you a licensed electrician? Changing a light switch or installing a ceiling fan is within the realm of many of us, as long as we take the proper precautions. Any other task is best left to a professional to avoid the very real chance of injury and serious damage to your home.
Don’t move, repair, or replace any gas appliance without a professional. Gas lines are dangerous, gas leaks are difficult to detect, and carbon monoxide poisoning due to improperly vented gas appliances kills more than 400 people a year.
Before you rent or buy a major power tool, be sure you know how to use it, or are under the guidance of someone who does. A welder is not a toy.
Not many appliances involve razor-sharp blades that can cause serious injury if misused…so respect your garbage disposal:
Run the disposal regularly to reduce buildup; use citrus peels to freshen the drain and ice to sharpen the blades
Only use cold water when you run the disposal to reduce the chance of oils accumulating
Put in small chunks of one or two at a time, to lessen the chance of a clog and to avoid overworking the disposal.
Never put anything in the disposal that is not food.
Don’t put grease or oil, cheese, bread, eggshells, potato or carrot peels, or any fibrous foods down; all will accumulate and clog the disposal.
Never put your hand in a disposal until it is unplugged. If possible, use a flashlight and a pair of needle-nose pliers to retrieve whatever it is you need, instead of your hand.
When in doubt of a clog, dropped object, or any other problem, call a professional.
Have a sunny and safe, summer!
Sources: http://www.nsc.org