Home Care Services: Winter Home Safety Tips As Colder Weather Arrives
Home Care Services: Home safety in the winter is different from the issues they experience in the summer.
Heating systems, water pipes, and piling snow all impact your parents’ comfort and safety. Use these home safety tips to ensure your parents are safe all winter long. Home care services providers can also be of great assistance during the colder months.
Hire Someone to Clear Them Out After a Storm
When it snows, hire someone to shovel or plow your parents’ driveway and walkways. Sand or salt helps with traction. While the person is there helping clear snow, ask them to check vent pipes for heating systems and dryer vents and clear them as needed, too.
Get the Heating System Cleaned and Inspected
If your mom or dad’s heating system hasn’t been cleaned and inspected yet, it’s time. Have it looked at and professionally cleaned. It’s the best way to prevent blockages that can lead to carbon monoxide issues within the home. It also ensures the system is working efficiently.
Hire Someone to Clean Dryer Vents
Have the home’s dryer vents cleaned. Lint fires are one of the most common home fires. If the cleaning technician recommends replacing the vent hose, make sure it’s done ASAP.
Test All Smoke, Fire, and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test out your parents’ smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors. If the batteries need changing, do so. If the unit isn’t working, replace it. While the detectors are taken down to change batteries, check the expiration date and replace any expired units.
Take note of the unit’s model number and manufacturing information. Check that it’s not a recalled unit. Many recalls have appeared during the past few years, so it’s important to replace any that have been recalled.
Invest in Safer Space Heaters
If the heating system isn’t heating a room enough or stops working, a space heater can help your parents stay warm. Check out their current space heaters and make sure they’re safe. Look for units that turn off if they’re bumped or tipped over.
Hire Caregivers to Check-In and Alert You to Issues
In-home care aides can check and ensure your parents have the things needed before and during a storm. If your parents need items like non-perishable foods and water bottles before a storm, make sure a caregiver is available to help them get stocked up.
You don’t have to worry about your parents not having power or heat during and after a blizzard or deep freeze. Home Care Services Providers are there to alert you to issues and make sure your parents are safe as winter’s snow and icy temperatures set in.
