We tend to feel safest when we’re secure and cosy at home but, in reality, your home could be filled with dangers you aren’t aware of. In some cases, the dangers we can’t see are the ones that cause the most harm. However, there is action you can take to improve the safety of your property and protect yourself and your family.
By being aware of the common dangers lurking in residential properties, you can carry out an audit of your home and identify any possible risks. From there, you can get expert advice, if necessary, and make modifications to ensure you’re safe. With this in mind, take a look at these five hidden dangers which could be present in your home:
1. Overloaded Electrics
We use more electrical devices than ever before, which means it’s easy to overload the circuits in your property. The vast majority of UK homes were built before 1980, which means they aren’t equipped to facilitate today’s use of technology and digital devices.
If you find yourself routinely searching for a free socket or using adapters, you probably need to upgrade your electrics. Similarly, if some sockets don’t work, the lights flash regularly, or fuses blow often, it’s likely that there’s something wrong with the electrics in your property. This can pose a fire risk, which obviously puts your family in significant danger. By consulting an electrician and having the circuits in your property tested, you can ensure that they don’t present a hidden danger.
2. Faulty Boilers
Faulty boilers are particularly dangerous because they can release deadly carbon monoxide. As this gas doesn’t have an odour and isn’t visible, you may be unaware that it’s present in your home until you begin to feel unwell. That’s why it’s so important to have functional carbon monoxide alarms in your property.
Fortunately, out of date or faulty boilers can be replaced relatively easily. When you visit Boiler Central, for example, you can order a new boiler online and arrange for it to be professionally installed. To learn more, take a look at this guide and find out exactly what you need to do to get a new boiler.
3. Cleaning Products
Leaving cleaning products in an accessible location can be catastrophic if you have young children or pets in your home. If these products are ingested, they can cause serious illnesses and injuries, so it’s vital to store them in a lockable cupboard or on a shelf that’s out of reach.
However, this isn’t the only risk that cleaning products can pose. If you use more than one cleaning product, there’s a likelihood that the mixture of chemicals could cause a harmful reaction. If ammonia, rubbing alcohol or vinegar is inadvertently mixed with bleach, for example, it can create a toxic gas that could overpower you. To keep yourself and your family safe, you’ll want to check the ingredients of every product you use and stick to use just one cleaning product at a time.
4. Air Pollution
When we think about pollution, we typically imagine lanes of traffic in busy city centres. However, air pollution can occur in any environment and it may even be present in your own home. It doesn’t take long for the air in your home to be filled with dust, bacteria, pollen and irritants, like chemicals. Although these are typically invisible to the naked eye, we breathe them in all the time.
Unsurprisingly, this type of air pollution can exacerbate medical conditions, particularly respiratory conditions like allergies and asthma. Improving the ventilation in your property can substantially improve the air quality, so you may want to leave windows open for longer periods of time. Additionally, placing an air purifier in each room can help to mitigate the risk and keep your home safe.
5. Mould
Most types of mould rely on damp conditions to grow. If your home is affected by condensation, for example, it’s easy for mould to spread. Similarly, faulty cavity wall insulation, prior flooding or high humidity levels can all increase the risk of mould developing.
You may be able to see mould when it grows, depending on its location. However, it often lurks in places that aren’t easily visible, such as behind furniture or inside walls. Due to this, you could be experiencing symptoms related to mould exposure without realising it. These typically include fatigue, headaches, allergies and difficulty sleeping.
Although there are mould removing products you can purchase, you do need to be careful when using them. If in doubt, it’s best to contact a professional mould removal provider and access their services. Maintaining moderate humidity levels and preventing condensation from forming can help to reduce the risk of mould developing, so be sure to use extractor fans, keep windows open for a portion of the day and install a dehumidifier, if necessary.
Improving the Safety of Your Home
Now that you’re aware of some of the dangers that could be present in your home, you’ll want to take steps to identify any possible risks in your property. Examining your house or flat from the interior, as well as outside, can help you to confirm whether there are any underlying problems you weren’t previously aware of.
Of course, once you know that something dangerous could be present in your home, you’ll want to take action straight away. However, it is important to take precautions when dealing with dangers in the home. Some issues, like a faulty boiler or malfunctioning electrics, should only ever be dealt with by a professional. For other risk factors, like air pollution or accessible cleaning products, it may be fairly simple to make minor lifestyle changes to eradicate the risk.
If you do choose to make any changes to your property in order to deal with hidden dangers, be sure to do so safely. Wearing safety goggles, a mask and gloves should be considered essential, for example. By doing so, you can ensure that potential dangers are dealt with quickly, safely and effectively.