Once you have been through the seemingly endless rigmarole of applying for mortgages, stressful negotiating, the seemingly endless closing process and then the sheer physical and emotional strain of relocating to a new home, it is important not to forget about the things which need instant attention in your new home. This is particularly important when it comes to protecting your family from potential break-ins, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
It is important to keep in mind after relocation that the second biggest cause of unintentional home death is fire, with almost 3,200 people dying in residential blazes every year and fire departments responding to more than 390,000 residential fires per year.
When you have made the move into your new home, you should immediately replace the smoke alarm batteries and make certain that they are working in the manner that they should. While smoke alarms have been installed in 90% of homes throughout the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says that is typically the case that around 20% of them are non-functional because of dead or even missing batteries.
“Smoke alarms can save lives, but they won’t work if they are not maintained,” noted the chairwoman of the CPSC, Ann Brown. “They should be tested monthly, and the batteries should be replaced at least once a year or when they make a ‘chirping’ sound.”
Once you have made sure that the smoke alarm is fully operational, you should also make a careful study of your new home’s floor plan and devise an emergency escape route.
Jon Huser
