Whether you live in a new flat or an old home, there’s always a chance for accidents to occur. While some emergencies are unavoidable, there are preventive measures to lessen the chances.
Here are some of the common home emergencies and how you can prevent them:
Fire
Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of fires in the UK. If you hear unusual noises from your boiler, it’s best to take caution and have it fixed or replaced immediately. Contact a heating engineer from Lanarkshire to ensure that it’s repaired or installed correctly. To lengthen the shelf life of your boiler, make sure you clean it regularly and bleed out the radiator.
Cooking fires are also common occurrences for homes. You can prevent fires by cleaning your oven and making sure that there’s no leftover grease or oil. The London Fire Brigade recommends using a heat alarm in addition to the smoke alarm in your kitchen. Unlike smoke alarms, heat alarms depend on the temperature for it to sound. After the installation, it’s crucial to check that the batteries are running now and then.
The most basic idea to avoid fires in the kitchen is to switch off your oven and stove after cooking.
Power Cuts
Planned and unplanned power cuts happen from time to time. While it can’t be prevented, there is a way so that you won’t experience a disruption. Get a standby generator that will power your appliances and devices during an outage. If you can, select a diesel-dependent generator over a petrol-powered one. Diesel is more efficient and will last longer.
You can also opt for a home battery like the Tesla Powerwall, which is designed to provide power during cuts. The good part about it is that you can use it even if your area doesn’t get much sunlight. But if you live in a particularly sunny part of the UK, you can opt to install solar panels. It would lessen your reliance on the power grid, which means fewer cuts and disruptions.
If you can’t afford to buy a generator or a home battery, you can still prepare for it better. Store a fully charged torch in every room. Make sure that it uses LED because it’s more energy-efficient. Opt for rechargeable torches over battery-operated ones. They may cost more during the purchase, but they’re cheaper in the long run.
Water Leaks
If you’ve spotted a damp area or bursts of water in the ground, you may have a leak. To check, you have to turn off your faucets and appliances and see if your meter is running. Depending on the source, your supplier may be responsible for fixing it. But if the source comes from your house, make sure to hire a WRAS approved plumber to repair it.
Prevent potentially massive damages and obscene repair costs with planning. Invest in alarms and torches, clean regularly, and hire experts. Don’t settle for cheap materials or services because they may end up costing you more in the long run.