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Saving and Budgeting Basics 

Home Safety Checklist

Illustration of hands holding a home

Make yours a home sweet, safe home.

Electrical Cords and Outlets

  • Check for frayed wires. Repair or replace any loose or frayed wires on all electrical devices.
  • Follow the path of cords. No cords should run under rugs or across doorways.
  • Baby-proof. If you have any small children in your house, place plastic safety covers over unused outlets.

    Related: Childproofing Checklist

  • Rethink extension cords. Consider adding electrical outlets where you currently rely on extension cords.
  • Check for a faulty electrical system. Feel all outlets and plugs to see if any are warm; if so, have an electrician check them.
  • Don’t overload the system. Make sure that you’ve followed manufacturers’ directions about maximum wattage of lamp bulbs and outlet requirements for plugs.
  • And don’t overload any one outlet. Be certain that you have no more than one high-wattage appliance plugged into a single outlet.

Home Heating

  • Examine the outside vents. They should be properly sealed and clear of obstruction to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the house. Recheck during and after a snowstorm.
  • Pick the right wood. If you use a fireplace or a woodstove, stock up on dry seasoned wood, which burns without producing a lot of creosote. A buildup of creosote—soot—in the chimney or flue can be dangerous, causing chimney fires.
  • Hire a chimney sweep. Have flues and chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional annually.
  • Inspect wood-burning stoves twice monthly. Make sure the door latch closes properly. The room should have a working smoke detector. And never let a child use the stove unattended.
  • Inspect water heaters annually. The temperature should be set at no higher than 120 degrees to prevent burns. Never leave children alone near a water heater, and keep combustible and flammable materials well away from it.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors generously. These should be on each floor of the house, covering all sleeping areas.
  • Test alarms monthly. Replace any that don’t work. (In any case, alarms should be replaced every 10 years.)
  • Replace batteries annually. Or sooner, if the alarm chirps.
  • Clean all detectors. Vacuum each grille.
  • Post the fire department’s carbon-monoxide-reporting emergency number. If it differs from 911, keep the number by every phone.
  • Demonstrate the sound of each detector. Family members need to know the difference.

Fire Extinguishers

  • Place extinguishers strategically. Keep one in the kitchen and one on every floor. And learn how to use them.
  • Replace extinguishers when necessary. Follow the schedule suggested by the manufacturer, and always replace an extinguisher that appears damaged.

    Related: When to Replace a Fire Extinguisher

  • Consider installing a sprinkler system. 

Escape Plans

  • Create an escape plan with two exit routes in case of fire. Practice it twice a year (once at night) with the whole family. For details, see the National Fire Protection Association’s website, nfpa.org.
  • Choose a meeting place. Set a plan for meeting up in case of a local or national disaster. See nfpa.org.
  • If you live in a two-story house, buy a rescue ladder. It should attach to an upper-level window casing to provide an alternate escape route.

In Homes With Small Children

  • Lock the cabinets. Install safety latches and locks.
  • Install window guards on every window. Make sure one window in each room can be used as a fire exit.
  • Install safety gates . Bar the top and bottom of stairs.
  • Lock up hazardous materials. Place any poisonous or hazardous products in locked cabinets. Post the poison-control hotline’s number (800-222-1222) by every phone.
  • Make sure all your medicines and vitamins have childproof caps. Store them out of children’s reach.
  • Stow away sharp knives. Scissors and cosmetic tools, too, as well as matches and plastic bags, should be kept out of children’s reach.
  • Lock up any guns. Be sure they are unloaded and separate from ammunition.
  • Install padding on furniture with sharp edges. And put doorknob covers on entry doors so kids can’t get out unattended.
  • If you have a pool, fence it in. A pool should be enclosed with a four-sided fence and a childproof gate.
  • Teach children their address and how to dial 911. As early as possible, children need to know these fundamentals.

Burglarproofing

  • Install a sturdy deadbolt lock on every door to the outside. This should include the door into the house from the garage.
  • In any room with window bars, make sure at least one has a quick-release mechanism. Replace or retrofit as needed.
  • Install motion-sensing floodlights in the backyard. 
  • Keep your house looking lived-in when you’re away. Arrange for the lawn to be mowed, stop mail delivery, install timers for selected lights, leave a car in the driveway, and leave drapes or shades open at least a bit.
  • Advertise prominently any home security system you have installed. You might think about putting up signs even if you don’t have a system.
  • Examine your landscaping. Trim shrubs and trees near windows and doors that provide hiding places for burglars, and prune limbs that serve as ladders to upper windows.
  • Purchase a metal bar or a solid-wood dowel to insert in the tracking of sliding glass doors. This will prevent anyone from opening them.
  • Put your street number, not your name, on your mailbox. 
  • Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or nearby friend. Thieves know all about fake rocks and other hide-a-key tricks.

Miscellaneous

  • Make sure your house number is visible from the street. It should be easily spotted, in case an emergency vehicle needs to look for it.
  • Store flammable liquids away from any flame source. It’s preferable to store them outside the house.
  • Keep flammable objects away from the kitchen stove. 
  • Plug a rechargeable flashlight into a socket by your bed. You’ll be able to light the way through smoke in a fire or signal to firefighters.
  • Install nonslip decals or a nonskid tub mat in your tub. 
  • Put lights and light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. Prevent falls in the dark.
  • Paint the bottom basement step white so it’s more visible. You’ll be less likely to mistake it for the floor.

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Did we forget anything on this checklist? What would you add?

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