10 Ways to Make Your Home Safer and Healthier

This month we are celebrating National Rebuilding Month with our Charter our Community partner, Rebuilding Together. The month-long call to service shines a spotlight on the increasing need to provide low-income homeowners with safe and healthy housing.

This National Rebuilding Month you can support safe and healthy homes by following these ten simple ways to make your home safer and healthier:

• Make sure you can easily enter and exit the house. Removing clutter from your exit points will be important in case of an emergency.
• Mount a smoke detector on each floor and near each bedroom. Purchase a Class ABC fire extinguisher and place it in your kitchen.
• If a child younger than five lives with you or comes to visit you regularly, install plastic outlet covers throughout your home

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• Remove tripping hazards from your main rooms and stairs, remove loose rugs and clutter to create an easy path through your home.
• Install or replace your carbon monoxide detector; most only last 5 to 10 years. Check regularly to make sure the backup battery is still working.

     

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• Make sure your kitchen and bathrooms are well ventilated, otherwise moisture will accumulate and mold will start growing.

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• Vent your clothes dryer with a rigid metal duct; plastic ones deteriorate over time and are more likely to block with lint, creating a fire hazard.
• Remove ivy and bushes growing against the siding and foundation, those can cause moisture and pest problems.

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• Fill gaps, cracks and holes in the siding and foundation where wires and pipes enter the home, as those give access to pests and cause air to leak which waists energy.
• Clean gutters and downspouts. Driving water away from the foundation and crawlspace will prevent moisture problems.

 

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Have you taken the pledge to make your home safe and healthy?

Take Rebuilding Together’s pledge to support safe and healthy homes and learn more about getting involved in your home and community to support National Rebuilding Month.

We’d love to hear how you’re making your home safe and healthy. Take some photos and be sure to tag us on Facebook or by tweeting at us @CharterCom, using #CharterOurCommunity.

This article contains links to other websites and content for informational purposes only. These links do not imply endorsement by Charter Communications of the websites or their operators. Charter is not liable for the content of these linked websites. Your use of the information in this article is entirely at your own risk. Please seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate.
 

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