Fall Maintenance for your Home

If the cool air of Fall hasn’t hit your area yet, it is on its way! As the seasons change, and the leaves fall from the trees, it’s important to keep in mind a few of the unique safety hazards that cooler weather presents. Many of us will begin our annual retreat away from outdoor activities and into the comfort of our warm and inviting homes. Spending time wrapped in a blanket or in front of the fire place sounds perfect. However, before you get too comfortable, we’d like to recommend you take a few precautionary measures to ensure a smooth transition to Fall and a happy holiday season.

Service Your Furnace: Contact your heating and cooling company to service your furnace. A certified technician should inspect the unit to make sure it is in proper working condition and that there are no leaks.

Use Caution with Space Heaters: Space heaters can add a little extra warm to a drafty room. Read all instructions prior to use. Use only UL approved systems. Always allow for proper distances around the space heater. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.

Use Fireplaces Safely: Have the chimney checked for creosote buildup prior to lighting the first fire of the season. Use a fireplace screen to keep sparks from flying out of the fireplace. Never leave a burning fire unattended and make sure all fires are completely extinguished before retiring to bed. If you have a gas fireplace, make sure it is properly vented.

Change Smoke Alarm and CO Detector Batteries: If you forgot to check the batteries in these life-saving units when you turned you clocks back, please check them as soon as possible. Double check the alarms once the batteries have been changed to ensure the units work. Replace any smoke detectors or CO detectors that are over 10 years old. Check and replace any fire extinguishers that have expired.

The IMT Loss Control Department has resources available to help our insureds in their efforts to reduce exposures and injuries while promoting safety at the workplace and in the home. Please contact your local IMT Group Agent if you think you could benefit from additional information or a loss control visit.