There are many safety considerations that go along with making updates and improvements to your home. When it comes to the world of home energy, this is no different.
Whether you are making improvements to your home energy system or doing regular maintenance checks, it’s important to always keep certain safety precautions in mind. However, safety is far too often overlooked. We’ve developed this two part blog series and included a few tips in each post to keep in mind when it comes to common home energy updates and improvements.
- Avoid excessive exposure and contact with insulation. Contact with insulation (specifically fiberglass insulation) can cause red and itchy skin, which can be an annoying problem. Some experts even fear that excessive exposure to fiberglass insulation can cause severe respiratory issues or even cancer. It’s always best to ensure your insulation is properly covered and out of direct lines of exposure for you and your family.
- Ensure ductwork is properly sealed. Leaky ductwork can allow harmful (and potentially lethal) carbon monoxide to enter your home. Duct leaks create pressure changes in the air, which can cause backdrafting. This occurs when harmful exhaust from your water heater or furnace gets sucked into the ducts and brought into your house instead of safely outside. As an additional precaution against harmful carbon monoxide, always make sure your carbon monoxide detector is in proper working order and has working batteries.
- Go over the basics with your kids. It’s one thing for you to know how to keep yourself and your home safe and secure when it comes to home energy, but your kids may be another story. Teaching them basic safety knowledge and skills when it comes to home energy safety is crucial. Tell them what areas of the home to avoid, how to use precaution with heating systems, how to be safe around windows, and many more discussions should be had with you little ones. There is a great site to share called energysafekids.org to help with explanations and education for your children.
These are just a few of the many safety precautions that homeowners should be mindful of when maintaining or improving their homes. We’ll follow up with a few more in the following post. If you’re uncertain about the overall safety of your home, contact us today to schedule an appointment with a qualified technician.
