There are a few home maintenance that you should not take your chances on. Read on to find out why they are downright dangerous.
- Loose stair rails - If you see a loose handrail on stairs, it's best to fix it right away. Stair falls are alarmingly common and can lead to serious injury.
- Mould - Invisible mould spores are everywhere, although they need moisture to turn into the real deal. When full-fledged mould occurs, it can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Some moulds even produce toxic substances called mycotoxins, which have been linked to nausea, immune system suppression, liver damage, central nervous system damage, and cancer.
- Older model blind cords - Research has found that about one child a month dies after becoming entangled in cords from blinds and shades. While headway has been made to get corded blinds off the market, if they're in your home, be sure to remove them ASAP, especially on floor-to-ceiling windows with long cords. They pose a major danger.
- Loose ceiling fans - Ceiling fans are a great way to cool off without taking up floor space, but a loose ceiling fan dropping on your head is less than ideal! If the fan's ceiling mount is loose or weak, the fan could end up on the floor.
- Damaged electrical outlets - Exposed electrical outlets can put you and your family at a major risk for getting electrocuted. accidents by calling a licensed electrician to fix or repair damaged electrical outlets and wiring.
- Old smoke alarms - With fires injuring or killing people each year, it's important to test your smoke alarms to maintain proper safety and change the battery annually.
- Loose outdoor railings - Decks and outdoor stairs can develop wobbly railings, often due to a wobbly bottom post. Don't delay fixing wobbly outdoor railings because failure to do so could lead to serious falls and injuries, especially from deck stairs.
- Trim branches - Heavy rain and strong winds can wreak havoc on tree branches. So be sure to remove dead or damaged trees and limbs to protect your home.
- Broken tiles - Broken tile can have jagged edges which will make walking around precarious.
- Add GFCI outlets - GFCI outlets reduce the danger of deadly shock from faulty plug-in cords and devices. A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) is a special type of outlet that detects dangerous ground faults and immediately turns off the power to stop shocks. You can replace almost any electrical outlet with a GFCI outlet. Correctly wired GFCIs will also protect other outlets on the same circuit.