When embarking on home improvements we mostly think about the look and feel of our upgraded surroundings. But how often do we consider the safety of our homes, not just in terms of home security but the everyday items that we take for granted? Maybe now is the time to assess them.
Double Glazed Windows & Doors
Double glazed windows are a great way to reduce heat loss from your home and lower your energy bills but they have another advantage over single glazing, safety. Double glazing in windows and doors is much tougher than single glazing and is much harder to break. This means it’s harder for anyone to gain entry into your property. But it also means that if one of your kids throws a ball in the house or crashes into your French doors they are not going to break the glass and injure themselves. A great reason to upgrade your glazing.
Updated Wiring
A dangerous problem for older homes or neglected properties is outdated electrical wiring and fuse boards. This is more likely to be an issue for someone renovating a very old property but even ‘modern’ homes can have wiring that is questionable at best. Before 1984 earth cables were not used and circuits often comprised aluminium wiring rather than copper, which is safer. Aluminium wiring is over 50 times more likely to cause a fire due to its high operating temperatures.
Damaged or poorly repaired sockets, switches and light fittings all pose a risk of electric shock as well as being a fire hazard. If your home has old wiring then you need to engage a qualified electrician to carry out a rewire. Although the rewire a house cost may be high, the risk to you, your family and your home is much higher.
Modern Gas Boiler
Any fossil fuel burning appliance in your home can produce carbon monoxide including gas boilers, gas fires, wood-burning stoves, kerosene heaters and gas cookers. This odourless gas is a killer and the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with other illnesses such as flu. A service of your gas boiler and other fuel-burning appliances can flag up any issues so it’s important to have these done regularly.
Modern gas boilers are efficient and use a different flue system from older models which means the air inside the boiler (used for combustion) is completely separate from the air circulating in the room where the boiler is situated. No toxic gases can leak into the room and these boilers are fitted with safety shut-offs if the flue is ever obstructed.
Eliminate Damp
Damp may not seem like a safety problem in your home but it is a contributing factor to mould growth. Mould can cause health problems which affect the airways and lungs, particularly in very young children, the elderly and anyone with a respiratory disease such as asthma, COPD or emphysema. It can also cause problems with the eyes and skin of anyone living in constant and close proximity to damp and mould.
There are three main types of damp, condensation, rising damp and penetrating damp. The best way to find out which is affecting your property is to have a damp survey done by a professional company. They can pinpoint the problem and advise you on how to fix it.
Seal Lead Paint
Up until the 1960s, lead was used in some types of paint, particularly for woodwork and metal items such as radiators. If you are living in a pre-1960 home which has original paintwork you may encounter it and wonder how to deal with it.
Lead paint is best left undisturbed so don’t be tempted to sand it down as the dust will contain lead particles which may be breathed in. A solvent-based paint remover is best if you want to remove the paint or you could simply overcoat it with modern paint. If you do remove it, when you’re done make sure to wash the clothes you were wearing and any areas of bare skin. Don’t let small children or animals near anything that you suspect is covered in lead paint.
