Spring Has Arrived

Since Spring has arrived this is a perfect time to create a check list for items within your household. This list holds items that may get forgotten as the warmer months come, so here is a reminder for them. The check list is the items that follow:

• Test your smoke detectors and change their batteries. This is important because a smoke detector only last for approximately ten years. With this being said, if your home is older than ten years it is a good thing to check them.
• Check your electrical outlets for potential fire hazards. Some common questions you can ask yourself while doing so are, are they overloaded? Or is anything fraying?
• Check your water heater for leaks or corrosion. Manufactures suggest that the average life expectancy for a water heater is about 8-12 years if it is serviced properly.
• Clean out your gutters and downspouts. This will help prevent rot and the wear and tear that comes from clogged gutters.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter. This is a good way to keep pollutants from entering your home and to keep your furnace running smoothly.
• Clean out the clothes dryer exhaust vent and area under the dryer. This includes all lint and other materials.
• Check for damage that may have been caused to your roof. Is there any shingles that are missing or any that are loose? Fixing these will help to avoid any water coming in to your home.
• Check for flashing or damage around the chimney’s furnace vents, and roof edges. Fixing this will help you avoid any water from damaging your home.
• Examine the caulk around your doors, vents, windows, and other areas. If needed replace the caulk. This will help you prevent excess moisture form entering your home.

These are just a few helpful tips that most people forget to do when the warmer weather starts to come around. Here at Idaho Fire and Flood we want to make sure our customers are taken care of. If you have any questions or concerns in regard to your home and damage that happened or can happen give us a call today. Our trained professional can explain the procedures that are needed.