Be Aware of These Home Safety Hazards

HELLOA ND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF THE DURANGO REAL ESTATE UPDATE. I’MYOUR HOST, DAN KORMAN BROKER OWNER OF ALPENGLOW PROPERTIES, A FULL-SERVICE REAL ESTATE FIRM IN DOWNTOWN DURANGO.

TODAYI’D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HOME SAFETY WITH YOU, AND WHILE ALL OF THISINFORMATION IS DEEMED RELIABLE, I CAN NOT GUARANTEE YOUR SAFETY SO IFYOU EVER HAVE AN ISSUE THAT YOU’RE UNSURE ABOUT, IT’S BEST TO CONTACTA LICENSED PROFESSIONAL TO COME TAKE A LOOK.

SOHAVE YOU EVER BEEN SITTING IN YOUR HOUSE WHEN SOMETHING WENT WRONGAND YOU WENT AND THOUGHT TO YOURSELF, THIS IS FINE, RIGHT? WELL, AS ATENANT, IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU INFORM YOUR LANDLORD OF SAFETYISSUES IMMEDIATELY IN WRITING SO THAT YOU HAVE A PAPER TRAIL IN THEEVENT SOMETHING HAPPENS. BUT IF YOU’RE A HOMEOWNER YOU HAVE TO MAKE ADECISION, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER TO FIX ITYOURSELF, OR HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TO COME PERFORM THE FIX FOR YOU.

MANYSUBTLE THINGS IN A HOME CAN LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES. SO HERE ARE THREETHINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON IN YOUR HOME THAT MAY POSE A SAFETY THREATIN THE FUTURE.

NUMBERONE, ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SO ELECTRICIANS HAVE JOBS FOR GOOD REASON ASTHIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PARTS ABOUT YOUR HOME. YOU WILLGENERALLY HAVE 110 VOLT CURRENTS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE, ALONG WITHPOTENTIAL FOR 220 VOLTS AT LARGER APPLIANCES, SUCH AS YOUR DRYER OR AHOT TUB. 110 VOLTS IS PLENTY OF ELECTRICITY TO CAUSE SERIOUS HARM SOPLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PERFORM ELECTRICAL FIXES IN YOUR HOMEWITHOUT THE PROPER EDUCATION. IF YOU DO PLAN TO DO SOME WORK ONSOMETHING BROKEN SUCH AS A HARDWIRED SMOKE DETECTOR, YOUR THERMOSTATOR GFC, PLEASE BE SURE TO TURN OFF THE BREAKER ASSOCIATED WITH THATUNIT AT THE BREAKER BOX. OTHER CLUES TO LOOK OUT FOR THAT MAY BECAUSE FOR CONCERN ARE A BUZZING BEHIND YOUR LIGHT SWITCH WHEN YOUTURN IT ON OR OFF, SPARKS WHEN YOU PLUG SOMETHING INTO AN OUTLET, ORIF YOUR LIGHTS ARE FLICKERING WITHOUT TOUCHING ANYTHING. ANY EXPOSEDWIRING SHOULD BE IN A CLOSED JUNCTION BOX, OR AT THE VERY LEAST BETAPED UP WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE OR COVERED WITH A WIRE NUT ON THEEXPOSED ENDS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CONTACTING A LICENSED ELECTRICIANFOR ANY AND ALL ELECTRICAL ISSUES.

NUMBERTWO MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE PALATABLE FOR A DIY FIX, BUT YOU STILLWANT TO BE CAUTIOUS WHEN DEALING WITH TREE LIMBS HANGING OVER YOURHOME. THESE CAN BE DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE DEAD OR ROTTEN.LIFE IN COLORADO IS MIXED WITH BOUTS OF EXTREME WEATHER AND HEAVY WETSNOW STORMS, SOMETHING I HOPE IS COMING SOON IS ONE OF THE MAINCULPRITS OF YOUR TREE LIMB SNAPPING. I’VE SEEN TREE LIMBS IN MY YARDOVER EIGHT INCHES IN DIAMETER, WHICH IS HEAVY ENOUGH TO DO MAJORDAMAGE TO A ROOF OR CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. THINGS SUCH AS YOUR CHIMNEYROOF, PENETRATIONS, SHINGLES, EAVES, AND GUTTERS ARE ALL ITEMS TOKEEP AN EYE ON. IF THE LIMB IS INDEED ANYWHERE NEAR THESE ITEMS, IT’SPROBABLY HIGH TIME TO TAKE CARE OF IT. IF THAT LIMB IS PRETTYSUBSTANTIAL, IT’S NOT JUST A COUPLE OF INCHES, THEN I RECOMMENDCALLING A LOCAL ARBORIST TO EVALUATE AN ASSIST IN ANY POTENTIALTHREATS.

SAFETYISSUE NUMBER THREE, THIS ONE HITS CLOSE TO HOME BECAUSE WHEN I BOUGHTA HOUSE IN DURANGO, MY HOUSE FLOODED WITHIN A MONTH. SO IN COLORADO,WE DON’T REALLY THINK ABOUT WATER AS A MAJOR ISSUE, BUT WATER IS ONEOF THE MOST DETRIMENTAL ELEMENTS TO HOUSES. WATER POSES, SAFETYISSUES, TO HOMEOWNERS IN SEVERAL WAYS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TOROOF LEAKS, FOUNDATION PENETRATION, DRAINAGE ISSUES, LACK OFVENTILATION AND SYSTEMS SUCH AS WELLS, PIPES AND YOUR HOT WATERHEATER SHOULD ALL BE CHECKED ANNUALLY.

WHENYOU SEE A LITTLE MOLD IN YOUR BATHROOM, THAT’S GENERALLY FROM LACK OFVENTILATION AND CAN BE SPOT TREATED GENERALLY WITH BLEACH OR ANOTHERANTIFUNGAL CLEANING AGENT. BUT IF YOU SEE MOLD IN YOUR FOUNDATION, INYOUR ROOF RAFTERS IN THE ATTIC OR ANY OTHER AREA THAT GENERALLYSHOULDN’T HAVE MOISTURE, YOU NEED TO HAVE A LICENSED CONTRACTOR COMEEVALUATE THE SITUATION. WITH THE INCOMING WINTER MONTHS IT’SIMPERATIVE TO START THINKING ABOUT WINTERIZING YOUR IRRIGATIONSYSTEMS, DISCONNECTING HOSES FROM THEIR HOSE BIBS AND BUTTONING UPANY EXTERIOR DETERIORATION THAT MAY BE EXACERBATED FROM THE SNOW ANDICE BUILDING UP. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDSTHAT YOU’LL FIND AS A HOMEOWNER.

DANKORMAN :

SOIF YOU EVER WANT TO DISCUSS YOUR HOME AND HOW TO KEEP IT IN TIP TOPSHAPE, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT VIA EMAIL OR ON ANY OF OUR SOCIALMEDIAS AT DURANGOBROKERS. THANKS FOR WATCHING. BE KIND TO EACH OTHERAND STAY WELL.

‍