Some things in life that take about 5 minutes to perform can go a long way in preventing a major event that could be costly to your family, your home, and your belongings.
Consider the following as “annual tasks” to mark off your list. Pick a day (the annual time change during spring or fall for instance) to do them – something you will remember. It is all about safety and you can’t be too careful these days. They really can go a long way in the risk management of your personal insurance.
- Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. Don’t assume that you will get “one more month” out of them. Just do it. Every year.
- Check for built up lint in your dryer and your vent hose. This could eventually lead to a fire and is seldom checked by homeowners.
- Check the hoses on your washing machine. How old are they ? Are they the unreliable rubber type that will eventually rot ? If so, consider the stainless steel version that can be purchased at any hardware store. If your hoses burst and you are out of town your whole house could be flooded.
- Check your windows and make sure they are in a locked position at all times. Burglars often look here first.
- Test your alarm system at least twice a year. Contact your monitoring company for details on how to do this. An alarm system that does not monitor the home properly is wasted money and useless.
- Do you have a plan in the event of a fire ? Talk it over with your children on what they should do if a fire occurs in your home – Where they should exit the residence, etc. Review the plan often.
- If you have a septic system, keep it monitored frequently on a proper schedule. Your drains could back up quickly and could be a disaster.
- Do you have a hot water heater in your attic? How old is it? Do you have an overflow pan underneath it in case it ruptures?
These 8 tips are essential for any homeowner. Again, pick a day – any day – and perform these simple tasks. Contact our office for more advice or questions or visit us at www.fprinsurance.com